Ionian Shipping & Trading and two other outfits are facing criminal charges on allegations that a product tanker violated US emissions controls in the waters off the Virgin Islands.
Prosecutors have alleged that the Greek shipowner's 8,016-dwt Ocean Princess (built 2003) burned fuel that exceeded the US Caribbean Emissions Control Area's 0.10% sulphur cap several times between March 2016 and September 2018 while calling on the port of St Croix.
Registered owner Lily Shipping and New York-based manager Ionian Management are also charged in the case.
The criminal complaint alleges the ship failed to maintain a proper oil record book and falsified bunkering records to show it taking on fuel in St Martin when it instead took fuel from its own cargo tanks.
The government also alleges that crew members lied to US Coast Guard inspectors.
Attorneys for the companies declined to comment.
Ionian Shipping and Lily are charged with three counts of violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships and one count of obstruction of an agency proceeding.
Ionian Management faces one charge of violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships.
