United States v. Zeaborn Shipmanagement (Singapore) PTE. LTD., et al.

             On September 13, 2023, a court sentenced Zeaborn Shipmanagement (Singapore) PTE LTD. (Zeaborn), Captain Alexander Parreno, and Chief Engineer Constancio Estuye. Zeaborn will pay a $1.5 million fine and make a $500,000 community service payment. The company also will complete a four-year term of probation and implement an environmental compliance plan. Parreno and Estuye will pay $2,000 fines; Parreno will complete a one-year term of probation and Estuye will serve two months’ incarceration.

The defendants pleaded guilty to maintaining false and incomplete records relating to the discharge of oily bilge water and garbage on board the vessel Star Maia (33 U.S.C. § 1908(a)).

            The defendants illegally burned garbage in barrels onboard the Star Maia and disposed the burnt garbage and barrels directly into the ocean. They illegally discharged oily bilge water from the ship’s engine room directly onto the ocean without using approved pollution prevention equipment. In October 2022, the crew failed to accurately record these disposals in the vessel’s garbage and oil record books as required by U.S. and international law.

            The U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service conducted the investigation.