John Gallagher. 24 February 2015.  A 47-year-old Philippine national who served as chief engineer on board a Japanese car carrier has been sentenced to eight months in a US prison for MARPOL violations.

The prison term for Noly Torato Vidad, to be followed by a year of supervised release, was for obstructing justice and illegally dumping oily waste into the sea.

During a coastguard inspection of the 18,082 dwt Selene Leader at the Port of Baltimore in January 2014, Vidad tried to hide illegal oil discharges by falsifying the oil record book and destroying documents. He also lied to US Coast Guard investigators, and instructed subordinate crew members to lie to investigators as well, according to prosecutors.

Ireneo Tomo Tuale, 63, also pleaded guilty for participating in the scheme and is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court in Baltimore on 3 March.

Hachiuma Steamship, the ship manager for the Selene Leader at the time of the violations, pleaded guilty and was fined USD1.8 million on 30 January for failing to maintain an accurate oil record book.

Source: www.ihsmaritime360.com