The chief engineer of a Greek bulker 75,600-dwt MV Trident Navigator (built 2000) has been found guilty of oil pollution related offences by a federal jury in New Orleans.
Mr. Matthaios Fafalios was convicted of knowingly falsifying the vessel’s oil record book, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering. In January 2014, US Coast Guard boarded MV Trident Navigator.
In late December 2013, Mr. Matthaios Fafalios ordered his engineering crew to construct a “magic hose” to discharge the oily waste water that was in the vessel’s bilge holding tank. Two crewmembers onboard the vessel subsequently reported this illegal discharge to the US Coast Guard.
Mr. Matthaios Fafalios is said to have attempted to hide critical documents and is said to have ordered engineers under his command to lie to the US Coast Guard about the illegal oily waste water discharge.
MV Trident Navigator operator Marine Managers, had previously pleaded guilty to knowingly falsifying the oil record book and obstruction of justice and paid a total criminal penalty of $900,000.
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