Ship Manager fined for illegal oily waste discharge and falsifying records

Gremex Shipping S.A. de C.V., a Mexican ship management company, has admitted to providing false records to the U.S. Coast Guard in an attempt to hide its illegal discharge of oily bilge waste. This action is a serious violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS). The company’s misconduct was discovered during a Coast Guard investigation of the cement carrier Suhar, which arrived in Pensacola, Florida, on August 25, 2023. The vessel, a 7,602 gross ton Panamanian-flagged bulk carrier, regularly transported cement from Tampico, Mexico, to Pensacola.

Upon boarding the ship to ensure compliance with regulations, Coast Guard officials found that the crew had been discharging untreated oily bilge water into the sea by bypassing the ship’s oily water separator. To cover up these illegal discharges, the crew falsified the ship’s oil record book. As a result of these actions, Gremex Shipping S.A. de C.V. faced legal consequences. Following a sentencing recommendation put forth by both the government and the company, the court ordered Gremex to pay a $1.75 million fine, serve a four-year probation term, and develop and implement an environmental compliance plan for the duration of its probation.

In light of the company’s guilty plea, Gremex Shipping S.A. de C.V. has been held accountable for its actions and will be closely monitored to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. This case serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to laws aimed at preventing pollution from ships. The consequences of violating these regulations can be severe, as evidenced by the significant fine and probation term imposed on Gremex. It is crucial for companies in the maritime industry to prioritize environmental protection and take proactive measures to prevent pollution.

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