LONDON, Feb. 18, 2005 (GNN) -- A British shipping outfit agreed to pay about $35,000 in fines and cleanup costs related to discharges from a failed oil/water separator on one of its vessels as it was traveling to Finland, according to a British Maritime and Coastguard Agency news release.
On June 22, 2003, the United Kingdom Registered motor vessel Finreel was on passage from the United Kingdom to Helsinki, Finland, when a Danish military aircraft noted a discharge of oil emanating from the ship as it passed through Danish National Waters.
The ship was subjected to Port State control inspection upon her arrival in Helsinki, where inspectors opened up the oily water separator and found oily deposits in a section of the outboard discharge pipe.
The Danish authorities asked for the help of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency Enforcement Unit to gather further evidence from the ship and from the Managers' offices, Norbulk Shipping UK Ltd. in Glasgow, Scotland.
Norbulk Shipping Ltd co-operated with the Danish authorities and brought documents and gave statements to the Sheriff at Glasgow on Sept. 23, 2004, in relation to the allegations.
The company later pleaded guilty to the offense in Denmark. In February 2005, Norbulk Shipping was fined 50,000 Danish Kroner (US$8,777.52) and agreed to pay clean up costs of 150,000 Danish Kroner (US$26,332.57).
Captain Jeremy Smart, principal enforcement officer for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said, "This case provided a successful opportunity for the enforcement units of two North Sea states to co-operate in an investigation."
Press releases and further information about the Agency is available at www.mcga.gov.uk.
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