Greek Shipping Companies Plead Guilty to Pollution Concealment and Obstruction

Major fines and probation ordered after oil tanker’s illegal discharges at Sewaren Terminal in Newark

Two Greek shipping companies, Avin International Ltd. and Kriti Ruby Special Maritime Enterprises, pleaded guilty to charges of violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS), falsifying records, and obstructing justice, according to a statement released by federal authorities. The charges stem from illegal discharges of oily bilge water by crew members of the Motor Tanker Kriti Ruby—including calls at Jacksonville, Florida, and the Sewaren Terminal in Newark, New Jersey—where U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) officials discovered attempts to conceal the pollution.

“Maritime pollution is extremely harmful to the environment, and so difficult to detect, especially when the polluters take elaborate steps to falsify records to conceal their crimes. Law protecting our seas exist for a reason, and we will work together with our enforcement partners to ensure they are followed, and violators are punished,” said U.S. Attorney Sellinger.

Sentencing and Financial Penalties

In accordance with the plea, United States District Judge Esther Salas sentenced Avin International Ltd. and Kriti Ruby Special Maritime Enterprises to pay a criminal fine of $3,375,000 and a $1,250,000 community service payment to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. She also sentenced them to serve five-year terms of probation during which they will be subject to environmental compliance plans with a monitorship to ensure future compliance.

These penalties come after an investigation revealed that, on multiple occasions between May and September 2022, crew members discharged oily bilge water from the Kriti Ruby into the sea, bypassing pollution prevention equipment. The discharges were not recorded in the vessel’s oil record book, as required by APPS. The companies also pleaded guilty to falsification of records and obstruction of justice in connection with the vessel’s September 2022 port call in Newark.

“Prioritizing profits over the environment by discharging oily waste into the sea and working to cover up that pollution is illegal,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “We are committed to enforcing the law and fighting against maritime pollution.”

Individuals Involved

• Former Chief Engineer, Konstantinos Atsalis:
  “The Kriti Ruby’s former chief engineer, Konstantinos Atsalis, was sentenced today to time served and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine after previously pleading guilty to charges related to the discharge of oily waste into the sea … including concealing the pollution by falsifying records.”
• Second Engineer, Sonny Bosito:
  “Second engineer Sonny Bosito was sentenced to time served for concealing pollution by falsifying records.”

Court documents indicate that key equipment used to bypass pollution prevention measures—such as pumps and hoses—was hidden in a sealed space called a “cofferdam.” Both engineers admitted they knew about the illegal discharges and took steps to conceal them from the USCG.

Investigation and Enforcement

The USCG’s Investigative Service investigated the case. Individuals can report suspicious activity onboard vessels to CGIS TIPS at www.p3tips.com/878.

“Today’s plea demonstrates our unwavering commitment, in partnership with the Environmental Crimes Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, to ensuring compliance of critical domestic oil pollution laws and holding violators of these laws accountable,” said Rear Admiral Michael E. Platt, Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard’s First District. “Please assist the Coast Guard in these vital efforts by promptly reporting any suspicions of similar illegal activity onboard vessels directly to the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS).”

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Stern and Kathleen P. O’Leary and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine E. Ward for the District of New Jersey and Senior Trial Attorney Kenneth E. Nelson and Trial Attorney Lauren D. Steele of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section prosecuted the case.

Local port officials and environmental agencies underscore that these violations pose serious risks to marine ecosystems and coastal communities. By imposing stringent fines and probation terms, federal authorities aim to enforce accountability and deter future attempts to conceal illegal discharges in New Jersey and beyond.

As with all criminal cases, the charges reflect allegations to which the companies have pleaded guilty, but other defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.