Image Credit: “Avin International Ltd./Fleet,” available at Yahoo Images (01/04/2025).
Two Greek shipping companies, Avin International Ltd. and Kriti Ruby Special Maritime Enterprises, have been fined $4.5 million for illegally discharging oily waste at sea and covering up their actions. The penalties include a $3.375 million criminal fine and $1.125 million in community service payments to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Additionally, both companies will serve five years of probation under strict environmental compliance monitoring.
The violations, committed by the vessel MT Kriti Ruby, took place during port calls in Jacksonville, Florida, and Newark, New Jersey, in 2022. According to court documents, crew members orchestrated a sophisticated scheme to bypass pollution prevention equipment. They discharged oily waste through the ship’s sewage system and concealed the pumps and hoses used in the operation within a sealed void space known as a “cofferdam.” These measures were designed to deceive U.S. Coast Guard inspectors.
The vessel’s former chief engineer, Konstantinos Atsalis, and second engineer, Sonny Bosito, played pivotal roles in the scheme. Atsalis was sentenced to time served and fined $5,000, while Bosito also received time served for falsifying records to conceal the illegal discharges.
“Maritime pollution is extremely harmful to the environment and difficult to detect, especially when elaborate steps are taken to falsify records and conceal crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger of the District of New Jersey.
Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim emphasized the Justice Department’s dedication to combating maritime pollution, stating, “Prioritizing profits over the environment by discharging oily waste into the sea and covering up that pollution is illegal. We are steadfast in our dedication to enforcing the law and fighting against maritime pollution.”
This case highlights the critical need for stringent oversight in the shipping industry and the severe consequences of violating environmental regulations. The penalties serve as a deterrent and reinforce efforts to protect marine ecosystems from harmful practices.
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