The senior assistant captain of a foreign vessel is suspected of polluting the sea with palm oil, causing damage worth more than two million US dollars, UNN writes with reference to the Office of the Prosecutor General.
... the senior assistant captain of a foreign vessel was informed in absentia of suspicion of polluting the sea within the internal sea waters of Ukraine with substances harmful to the life and health of people, as a result of violation of special rules, which caused other serious consequences (Part 2 of Article 243 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine)
The investigation established that in early May 2024, an uncontrolled discharge of palm oil occurred in the waters of the "Pivdenny" seaport during the unloading of a foreign vessel. This substance is dangerous for the marine environment. Another leak of palm oil overboard occurred during the transfer of liquid residues from the bow cargo tanks to the settling tanks.
The prosecutor's office explained that the suspect's neglect of established monitoring procedures, in particular, checking the cargo system and equipment control, led to the leakage of 7.2 tons of polluting substance. As a result, significant damage was caused to the marine environment.
Such actions are a violation of the requirements of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships of 1973. As a result of sea pollution, the state suffered damage of more than 2 million US dollars
In addition, prosecutors appealed to the Economic Court of Odesa Oblast with a lawsuit in the interests of the state against the ship owner to recover damages caused by violation of environmental legislation.