STX Pan Ocean pleaded guilty Friday in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, to violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships by knowingly failing to maintain an accurate Garbage Record Book onboard the 17,000dwt Pan Voyager, reports the Daily Astorian. The inaccuracy was a failure to record a dumping incident during which approximately six 55-gallon drums, 30 plastic lined rice sacks, and approximately 200 garbage bags containing oil contaminated grain were thrown into the ocean during a voyage from Korea to Longview, Washington in July.
Two senior officers of the vessel, Emilio D. Canillo and Bong Jun Gang pleaded guilty to failing to notify Coast Guard inspectors of the false document. As part of the plea agreement finalized today, the shipping line paid a $500,000 fine, and made a $250,000 community service payment to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for use in projects to restore Puget Sound. The company also agreed to a stringent environmental compliance plan with outside auditing.
Two senior officers of the vessel, Emilio D. Canillo and Bong Jun Gang pleaded guilty to failing to notify Coast Guard inspectors of the false document. As part of the plea agreement finalized today, the shipping line paid a $500,000 fine, and made a $250,000 community service payment to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for use in projects to restore Puget Sound. The company also agreed to a stringent environmental compliance plan with outside auditing.