Greek Company Convicted and Fined for Safety and Environmental Violations

Greek company Zeus Lines Management SA has been ordered to pay $2.25 million for safety and environmental violations aboard the tanker ship Galissas, which was bound for the United States. The company was found guilty of failing to report a hazardous condition and illegally dumping oily bilge water at sea without proper treatment. The violations were discovered during a US Coast Guard inspection in Rhode Island after the tanker arrived from Rotterdam. The captain and chief engineer of the Galissas were also given suspended sentences.

During cargo operations in Rotterdam, the Galissas’ inert gas system was shut down and instead of staying in port for repairs, the ship headed to the United States. Upon inspection, the US Coast Guard found that the oxygen levels in the cargo tanks were more than twice the allowed limit. The captain also presented a fake logbook to the Coast Guard, falsely reporting safe oxygen levels during the voyage.

Zeus and the chief engineer admitted to illegally dumping oily bilge water without proper treatment and not recording the discharges in the ship’s oil record book. The chief engineer ordered crew members to discharge approximately 9,544 gallons of oily bilge water to the sea, bypassing pollution prevention equipment, and instructed them not to report it to the Coast Guard.

Zeus was sentenced to pay a fine and a community service payment, totaling $2.25 million, and received a four-year suspended sentence. The captain and chief engineer received suspended sentences as well.

Reference Source: Google News .