The US Coast Guard issued a final rule adjusting fines and other civil monetary penalties to reflect the impact of inflation. Between 2003 (the last time monetary penalties were adjusted for inflation) and 2008, the consumer price index increased by 19…
After a four-day trial, a federal judge ruled on Dec. 18 in favor of the family of Freddie Porter, Jr., a 19-year-old U.S. Navy enlisted seaman from New Jersey who in 2007 was killed when the small craft carrying him was overrun by a tugboat pushing a large flotilla on Virginia's James River…
The Rogaland county public prosecutor notified Statoil on 18 December that it has been fined $4.26m following the oil leak from the Statfjord A loading buoy on 12 December 2007.“We have noted the public prosecutor’s decision,” said Thorstein Hole…
Polembros Shipping LTD., a ship management company headquartered in Greece, was sentenced on Dec. 9 in federal court in New Orleans to pay a $2.7m criminal fine for violating anti-pollution laws, ship safety laws, and making false statements during a U…
The U.S. Department of Justice issued a news release stating that, after pleading guilty, a shipping company has been sentenced to pay a criminal fine of $2.7m for violation of pollution and safety laws and for making false statements. In addition…
According to Maritime New Zealand, the lead contractor on Christchurch's ocean outfall pipeline project has been convicted and fined $115,000 plus costs, after admitting a series of safety lapses on the project - two of the breaches occurring the same day as another accident killed two workers…
On December 4, 2009, a federal district court in Va. entered judgment in favor of the U.S. Coast Guard and Matson Navigation Company, Inc. in a long-running vessel foreign rebuild case. Winston & Strawn LLP represented Matson. The Shipbuilders Council of America…
On Tuesday, November 17, 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2009, sponsored by Representative Doris Matsui of California (H.R. 3360). The vote was 416-4. The House also included this…
Statoil (OSE: STL, NYSE: STO) announced that the Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) the company entered into as a part of the settlement of the Horton case, has expired as scheduled. On 13 October 2006 the company reached agreements with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)…
Christopher H. Mansuy, Esq., member of Carroll McNulty & Kull LLC (CMK) has been named one of 2010’s The Best Lawyers in America in the specialty of maritime law by his peers. Best Lawyers a 25-year-old, highly respected peer-review publication…
Charles Paul Edward Jumet of Fluvanna County, Va., pleaded guilty on Nov. 13 in connection with his role in a conspiracy to pay bribes to Panamanian government officials to secure a maritime contract, announced Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Lanny A…
Medina International Holdings, Inc. (Pink Sheets: MIHI), a manufacturer of specialized search and rescue boats, announced that it has completed the acquisition of Harbor Guard Boats, Inc. Harbor Guard Boats, Inc. manufactures fire rescue, rescue and patrol boats…
The Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) applauded the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) recently posted directive to field officers establishing an issue management team in the wake of an IRS analysis indicating that a significant number of foreign vessels permitted to work in the U…
The U.S. Ocean Marine insurance industry has been hard hit by the economic crisis at a time when its structure, traditions and culture are facing challenges, according to a new study by Conning Research and Consulting.'The Ocean Marine industry…
The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly by Sea, known as the Rotterdam Rules, has received its 20th signature just one month after it first opened for signature. Niger became the 20th signatory to the Rotterdam Rules…
