Pacific Carriers Limited (PCL), based in Singapore and owned by tycoon Robert Kuok, was convicted in a U.S. federal court after pleading guilty to violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from ships, obstruction of justice, and failing to alert the U.S. Coast Guard of an unsafe condition on Pac Antares, a bulk carrier constructed in 2003.

PCL pleaded guilty to a total of eight felony offenses and was ordered to pay a $12 m fine. For four years, the organization was also placed on probation and ordered to introduce a comprehensive plan of environmental compliance.

PCL acknowledged that the crew on board the vessel deliberately neglected to report the overboard discharge of oily bilge water and oil waste in April and September 2019 in the oil record book of the vessel.

The company also acknowledged that the crew discharged oily garbage and plastic overboard and falsified the log book of garbage.

In addition, to store oily waste, which is a dangerous condition under the Ports and Waterways Safety Act, a large space along the keel of the vessel was used. It should have been reported to the US Coast Guard immediately.

Wenguang Ye the vessel's chief engineer, pleaded guilty to falsifying the oil record book, and was fined $5,500 and banned for one year from entering the United States.

The Pac Antares was recently involved in another lawsuit, with $2.1 million penalized by PCL for concealing oily bilge water overboard discharge.

Maritime Business World