Chemical tanker captain sentenced to prison after New Orleans spill
In a high-profile case of maritime environmental crime, two companies, Privé Overseas Marine and Privé Shipping Denizcilik Ticaret, received their verdicts last week in federal court in New Orleans. The company that operated the Panama-registered P/S Dream chemical tanker faces a $2 million criminal fine and four years of probation. The ruling comes after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges, obstruction of justice, and violations of the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (APPS) Act in May.
At the center of the case is Captain Abdulrahman Korkmaz, sentenced to eight months in prison for illegally discharging oil-contaminated waste and obstructing a U.S. Coast Guard investigation. The incident occurred in January 2023 as the P/S Dream was en route to New Orleans.
The crime unfolded
It was a nightmare for an ecologist. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the company’s senior executives knew full well that Captain Korkmaz had ordered the crew to discharge oil-contaminated waste from waste tanks into the ocean. Over three days, the crew, under Korkmaz’s command, prepared a portable pump to discharge the waste into the sea while washing the tanks with soap.
The real problem? They falsified the ship’s oil logs to cover up the crime. Fortunately, not everyone aboard the P/S Dream agreed with this reckless plan. One brave crew member stepped forward and provided the U.S. Coast Guard with compelling video evidence showing the discharge and the resulting oil layer polluting the ocean.
When the ship finally arrived in New Orleans, a second whistleblower also stepped in and provided an audio recording of an officer blatantly discussing illegal actions. There was no doubt about it.
The Result
The P/S Dream’s logs were presented to the Coast Guard as clean to cover their tracks. They ignored the fact that oil-contaminated waste was being dumped into the ocean in clear violation of MARPOL Annex I, an international treaty designed to prevent such pollution. But the whistleblower’s statement painted a much bleaker picture.
The Prive Overseas Marine and Private Shipping verdict includes a notable provision: $500,000 of the $2 million fine will fund marine environmental projects in the Eastern District of Louisiana. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will manage the projects, a silver lining in a dark story.
Turkish national Captain Korkmaz may be the head of the P/S Dream. Still, the two companies behind it—Prive Overseas Marine (based in Dubai) and Privie Shipping (based in Turkey)—are now clashing over the consequences of their blatant behavior and disregard for maritime law. Both companies must adhere to strict environmental compliance measures, including audits and inspections, for the next four years as part of their probation.
The story of the P/S Dream, as part of the plea agreement, highlights the stringency of international regulations like MARPOL. Equally powerful are oversight, enforcement, and crews’ willingness to report to authorities. Without accountability, the ocean becomes a garbage dump for corporate shortcuts.
