A South Korean shipping company slapped with a $950,000 fine in April for dumping polluted water into the ocean off Hawaii is in trouble again.
Doorae Shipping Co., Ltd. was fined $275,000 Tuesday for failing to maintain an accurate oil record book. The company had pleaded guilty of the charge, a violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships.
The U.S. Department of Justice said the case stems from the B. Pacific vessel, a petroleum oil tanker that generates large amounts of waste oil and oil-contaminated wastewater.
U.S. law requires such vessels to have pollution prevention equipment, and that the movement and transfer of oil on ships to be logged. But from July 8 to July 14, the company failed to document the movement of about 5,400 gallons of contaminated bilge water in an unapproved space on the vessel.
“Environmental crimes are a serious threat to the health of our oceans,” said Capt. Mike Long, Coast Guard captain of the port of Honolulu. “This case sends a clear message that violators will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted.”
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