Two Aegean Shipping chief engineers have been convicted of environmental and obstruction crimes after 15-day trial in the US.

A US federal jury convicted Herbert Julian and Panagiotis Koutoukakis of falsifying documents in order to conceal illegal discharges of oily bilge waste from the 51,000-dwt tanker Green Sky (built 2014).

Julian, who served as chief engineer of the vessel from 3 August to 4 September 2015, was convicted of two felony counts under the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) and for obstruction of justice.

Koutoukakis, chief engineer from 1 February 2015 until 3 August 2015, was convicted of two felony counts, one for APPS and another for falsifying records.

“This case involved egregious violations of US and international laws that are key to protecting the oceans from pollution, and deliberate efforts to mislead Coast Guard officials about these criminal acts,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Wood.

“The Green Sky case stresses the vital importance of USCG environmental protection missions with regard to pollution from ships,” said Captain Gary Tomasulo, Commander, USCG Sector Charleston.

The USCG was reportedly tipped off by three whistleblowers who came forward to report the crimes and ask for protection from US authorities.

The evidence presented to the jury at the trial allegedly showed that the Green Sky was regularly pumping contaminated and oily water directly overboard.

None of these discharges were disclosed as required and the vessel’s oil record book was said to have been falsified to cover-up illegal overboard discharges of oily wastes from February to August 2015.

“Methods of falsification included omitting illegal bypass operations, claiming that the oil water separator was used when it had not been, and a series of false entries regarding the levels of the bilge holding tank, which were designed to further the cover-up,” the US Department of Justice said.

“While most of these discharges occurred in international waters, evidence at trial revealed that at least two of these discharges were within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the US during the ship’s voyage from Pascagoula, Mississippi, to Houston, Texas in May 2015.”

Sentencing of Julian and Koutoukakis will take place at a date that will be set by the court. At trial, the second engineer Nikolaos Bounovas was acquitted of all charges against him.

The previously convicted Captain, Genaro Anciano, testified at the trial. His sentencing has yet to be scheduled.