Two shipping companies, Prive Overseas Marine LLC and Prive Shipping Denizcilik Ticaret, have pleaded guilty to charges related to violating the Ship Pollution Prevention Act and obstruction of justice. The charges stem from falsifying oil logs aboard their tanker, the PS dream. The guilty pleas were entered in federal court in New Orleans, where the companies face a $2 million fine and four years’ probation if the plea agreement is approved.
The case originated from a crew member’s report to the Coast Guard on January 11, 2023, with evidence of oil being pumped overboard from the tanker. The companies submitted falsified reports during a Coast Guard inspection in New Orleans to conceal that the crew had thrown oil-contaminated waste overboard on the voyage. The Assistant Attorney General emphasized the seriousness of intentional vessel pollution and obstruction of justice, pledging full prosecution of such environmental crimes.
The proposed $2 million penalty includes $500,000 for community service payments to fund marine environmental projects in Louisiana. Whistleblowers who provided evidence leading to the convictions may also receive fines up to $500,000. Additionally, the Turkish captain of the PS dream, Abdurrahman Korkmaz, faces separate charges for violating APPS and obstructing a Coast Guard inspection of the vessel.
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