Judge sentences former captain of polluting chemical tanker to time already served
The Filipino former captain of a chemical tanker involved in a US federal water pollution case will be allowed to return to his homeland after a judge in Charleston, South Carolina, sentenced him to time already served, according to the Associated Press.
Genaro Anciano had pleaded guilty to a felony charge of obstruction of justice in the case of the 2014-built vessel Green Sky, from which thousands of gallons of oily bilge waste was illegally dumped in the Atlantic while it was docked in North Charleston.
, from which thousands of gallons of oily bilge waste was illegally dumped in the Atlantic while it was docked in North Charleston.Both prosecution and defence lawyers had requested lenient sentencing because Anciano had been co-operative in helping build a case against other crew members.
Initially Anciano had not helped investigators when they questioned him in 2015 but he had a change of heart.
Some crew members were convicted in a jury trial last month. They await sentencing.
In a separate hearing, also in Charleston, the ship’s operator Aegean Shipping Management, was fined $2m.
Interesting that the magic pipes are still in use. Will invasive species become the next contraband “magically” discharged?
Interesting also that when it’s a Filipino Captain, the Nationality of the Captain is not blotted out. I hope you do the same when a white guy gets to be the culprit.
Good news Juan, It appears that they did! A quick (non-scientific) look at other articles here that have named officers who have run afoul of the law revealed that back in December 2015 Captain Emile Huizinga’s nationality appeared in both the headline and the article text. Yet, perhaps the nationality of relevance in such cases relates more to the ship than her master?