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$1.5 million fine after engineers dumped oily water

The operator of the "Achilleus" on May 14, 2019 has agreed to pay a $1.5 million fine after the engineers of the bulk carrier allegedly dumped oily water into the sea and used false documentation to cover up the pollution. The Portline Bulk International of Portugal, which operates the vessel, admitted in a criminal plea agreement that its employees falsified entries in a record book used to track the disposal of bilge water in August 2018. Inspectors with the U.S. Coast Guard discovered the false documentation while the ship was docked at the Port of Charleston in August, according to court documents. The case was being heard in federal court in Charleston. Two of the ship's engineers also signed plea agreements. They were facing fines of up to $250,000 and a maximum of six years in prison each. A sentencing date has not been scheduled.