SIMIC

GAS carrying Clipper Shipping has been ordered to appear in a Houston court for a first hearing related to a case of an oily bilge spill that allegedly occured in Africa, reports Fort Lauderdale's Maritime Executive.
While the US brings several MARPOL cases each year against merchant ships, this case is unusual because the alleged offence did not occur in US waters.
Prosecutors contend that the 42,500-dwt Clipper Saturn made an illegal discharge of oily waste while at anchor off the coast of Lome, Togo in West Africa.
The criminal charges were filed on April 6 in the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division against Clipper Shipping and its vessel the Clipper Saturn. An unnamed chief engineer is being cited as the person in charge and responsible for the issues in the violation.
In the filing, the prosecutor says that the US, as part of an international regime, enforces the MARPOL agreements to prevent pollution. The US Coast Guard has the authority to conduct inspections and enforce laws.
They highlight that the US in its role enforces the regulations for vessels regardless of their registry in the navigable waters of the US or while in a port or terminal under the jurisdiction of the US.
The filing does not explain how the US discovered these violations. They were apparently uncovered during a routine inspection of the 42,500-dwt Clipper Saturn arrived in the Port of Houston in October 28, 2021.
The US Coast Guard charges that the Oil Record Book "failed to contain properly recorded entries regarding discharges of machinery space bilge water that had not been processed and discharged to a shore facility or barge."
They allege the incidents took place a month before the inspection, between September 27 and October 1, while the vessel was anchored off Togo.
The typical outcome is a fine and probation for the company and many shipping companies settle the cases as opposed to proceeding to trial. The ship's officers however could serve jail terms if convicted.