PS DREAM

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Operators of PS Dream fined $2 million for polution, captain gets prison term

Two corporations that operated the 'PS Dream ', the Prive Overseas Marine LLC and the Prive Shipping Denizcilik Ticaret, were sentenced in a federal court in New Orleans on Sep 27, 2024, to pay a $2 million criminal penalty and complete four years of probation. The companies pleaded guilty in May to charges of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS). Separate charges were filed against Captain Abdurrahman Korkmaz, 37, a Turkish national who was the ship’s master. On Sep 10, the court sentenced him to eight months in prison for an APPS offense and obstructing the U.S. Coast Guard’s investigation. The charges pertained to the investigation of the 'PS Dream' when it was heading to New Orleans in Jan 2023. Senior corporate managers were aware that Korkmaz had arranged to discharge oil-contaminated waste from a residual tank on deck into the water. The captain ordered the crew to pump the waste overboard and clean the tank with soap. The seamen rigged a portable pump to empty the contents overboard over three days. The defendants falsified the vessel’s oil record book by omitting the discharge. One of the crew members alerted the Coast Guard and shared videos of the discharge and resulting oil sheen. When the ship arrived in Louisiana, another crew member came forward and gave the Coast Guard a recording of an officer discussing the discharge.

Master facing jail for violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships

On June 11, 2024, the Turkish master of the 'PS Dream' pleaded guilty in Louisiana Court for violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) and obstructing the proceeding by providing false records to the authorities. This came after the two tanker operators pleaded guilty last month. The incident came into light after a crew member reported to the U.S. Coast Guard Orleans by providing photos and videos that showcased oil being pumped overboard and trailing behind the tanker on Jan 11, 2023, just two weeks before the vessel arrived at the Port of New Orleans. On Jan 26, 2023, the U.S. Coast Guard conducted a routine inspection and found nine violations, including a lack of pollution prevention, issues with the onboard certificates, and problems with the gyro compass and the ventilation system of the vessel. The Captain of the tanker admitted to providing false logbooks to the Coast Guard during the inspection in order to hide the fact that the crew had disposed off contaminated oil waste from the vessel into the sea on Jan 11 en route to New Orleans, violating the international ship pollution regulations. The Captain also admitted ordering the crew to follow his instructions and dump the oily waste into the sea using a portable pump. As per the U.S. Department of Justice, the master pleaded guilty to two courts for violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) and obstructing the proceeding and now he is scheduled to be sentenced on September 10. He may be facing imprisonment for six years and a fine up to $250,000, or twice the gain or loss from the offence for the APPS. He also faces another five years in jail, followed by the same amount of fine for the obstruction charges.

Operators pleaded guilty for oil spill

The U.S. Department of Justice stated on May 21, 2024, that the two operator companies of the 'PS Dream', the Prive Overseas Marine LLC and Prive Shipping Denizcilik Ticaret, have pleaded guilty to intentionally violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) and misleading the authority of justice by providing a false report of oil records. The guilty plea was logged in the federal court of Orleans, presided over by the Chief Justice of the U.S. District Court. If convicted, the two companies will be charged $2 million and probation for four consecutive years. Moreover, the captain of PS DREAM has also been separately charged. On Jan 11, 2023, a crew member reported to the Coast Guard of Orleans, by sharing a video that showcased the oil being pumped overboard and trailing behind the vessel. After two weeks, the vessel made a port call at New Orleans, where the crew member submitted the video as evidence to the Coast Guard of Orleans.