United States Attorney Duane A. Evans has announced that Fei Wang, a 38-year-old Chinese national, pled guilty to charges related to the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) and obstruction of proceedings. Wang was sentenced to three months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and is required to pay a $200 mandatory special assessment fee.
Wang served as the Chief Engineer of the M/V ASL Singapore, a bulk carrier owned by China and registered in Liberia. The vessel was involved in trade within the United States. Upon its arrival in New Orleans on February 26, 2024, an inspection by the U.S. Coast Guard revealed fraudulent entries in the vessel's Oil Record Books. In his plea agreement, Wang admitted to presenting these records while knowing they contained false information regarding the discharge of oily bilge water directly overboard before reaching U.S. waters.
The court documents detailed that since at least October 2023, when Wang joined the vessel, there had been ongoing violations involving the use of a portable pump and flexible hose—referred to as a "magic pipe"—to dispose of oily bilge water without proper pollution prevention measures as outlined by MARPOL regulations. These activities occurred both before and during Wang's tenure as Chief Engineer.
Damon J. Youmans, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Coast Guard Investigative Service Gulf Field Office, stated: "Today's sentencing highlights the commitment of the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) to hold individuals accountable for violations of MARPOL, particularly in cases involving the discharge of oily waste." He emphasized continued collaboration with partners from various government divisions to enforce environmental laws.
The investigation was conducted by multiple agencies including the Coast Guard Investigative Service and EPA Criminal Investigations Division with assistance from U.S. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine M. Calogero and G. Dall Kammer are prosecuting this case.