Pacific International Lines (PIL) has been fined US$3 million for the illegal dumping of oil from one of its ships into Guam’s Apra Harbor.
[s2If is_user_logged_in()]The offence was detected on 4 October 2019, after the US Coast Guard received a report, alleging that PIL’s ship, 1,080TEU Kota Harum, had discharged oil into Apra Harbor, in violation of the Clean Water Act.
The US Attorney’s Office subsequently charged PIL with failing to maintain an oil record book and discharging oily bilge water into Apra Harbor.
Maung Maung Soe and Peng Luo Hai, the chief engineer and second engineer, respectively, of Kota Harum, have pleaded guilty to the charges. Peng pleaded guilty to violating the Clean Water Act by opening the valves in the engine room and activating a pump that discharged waste oil into the harbour. He can be jailed for up to three years.
Soe pleaded guilty to contravening the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships by failing to ensure that the discharge of waste oil was made with the use of an oily water separator and oil content metre.
Soe, who faces imprisonment of up to six years, was also charged with failing to accurately record the volume of bilge water stored in the ship’s bilge holding tank.
When contacted, PIL told Container News that the crew on Kota Harum had reported a discharge of engine room bilge water into Apra Harbor on 4 October 2019.
In a statement to Container News, PIL explained, “The ship’s officer on watch took prompt actions to stop the discharge and contacted the local agencies thereafter. And the contracted local Oil Spill Removal Organization (OSRO) deployed its resources immediately and cleaned up the discharge.
“PIL had immediately rendered full cooperation to the investigation by local authorities. The vessel remained in Guam territory to assist the investigation by local authorities and was allowed to depart on 25 October 2019.”
PIL said that it has since enhanced and implemented additional measures to prevent accidental and operational discharge from its ships. The company added that it encourages whistleblowing report of non-conformance of safety and environmental procedures.[/s2If]
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Martina Li
Asia Correspondent
