Ecological inspectors in Ukraine have turned their attention from ballast water to wastewater, issuing fines to vessels deemed to have caused pollution.
In fact, this follows the ruling earlier this year against the ecological inspectorate in a case related to control of ballast and allegations of pollution in port of Yuzhny. To remind, for many years, vessels calling in Ukraine have encountered issues regarding the sampling and testing of ballast water and actions by ‘ecological inspectorate’.
However, it was reported that in recent weeks at least three vessels have faced fines imposed by ecological inspectors in ports of Odessa, Pivdennyi and Chornomorsk.
In light of the situation, North P&I club’s correspondents, Dias, reported that circumstances of the three cases were very similar – upon berthing, investigators and inspectors boarded vessel and conducted a thorough search and investigation, before presenting a regional court order.
Owners of vessel were charged with wastewater pollution, alleging discoloration of water while vessels were at outer anchorage. It is reported that vessels’ masters were not presented with evidence, and that allegations of pollution were received several days after the date of alleged pollution event.
Concluding, penalties were calculated based on fresh water consumed during vessel’s stay at outer roads. All three ships were detained until fines were paid in full.
Source: Safety4Sea