OFFSHORE SERVICE VESSELS, LLC ( OSV), a Louisiana limited liability company whose corporate headquarters are located in Galliano, Louisiana, was charged yesterday in a Bill of Information for discharging oily wastewater from the bilge tank of the R/V Gould overboard on the high seas, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten and the Justice Department.

According to the Bill, OSV owned and operated the R/V Gould an American-flagged vessel that served as an ice-breaking research vessel working under contract for a national foundation. The Bill alleges that from July, 2005 through September, 2005, oily waste water that was generated aboard the R/V Gould was stored in the bilge water holding tank which had a capacity of approximately 12,000 gallons. When the bilge water tank could receive no more wastewater contaminated with oil, crew members intermittently discharged the oil wastewater from the bilge tank overboard without first passing through the Oily Water Separator.

If convicted, OSV faces is a maximum fine of the greater of $500,000 or twice the gain or loss resulting from the criminal offense.

U. S. Attorney Letten reiterated that a Bill of Information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was investigated criminally by the United States Coast Guard Criminal Investigative Services and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dorothy Manning Taylor, and Senior Trial Attorney Dan Dooher with the Environmental Crimes Section, Department of Justice.

(Download Bill of Information )

 

 

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