A Deliberate Oil Spill
**NEW ORLEANS, July 16, 2025** — Eagle Ship Management LLC (ESM), based in Stamford, Connecticut, has pleaded guilty to environmental crimes related to the illegal dumping of oily bilge waste from one of its cargo vessels off the coast of New Orleans.
The company admitted to violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) following an incident aboard the bulk carrier *M/V Gannet Bulker*. ESM has agreed to pay a $1.75 million criminal fine and will undergo a four-year period of probation, during which it must submit to oversight by an independent technical monitor.
The criminal investigation was sparked by a whistleblower post on social media in March 2021, which revealed that a flooding event in the ship’s engine room had resulted in the release of more than 10,000 gallons of contaminated bilge water into U.S. waters. The discharge was carried out at night, bypassing pollution-control equipment and with no record made in the ship’s oil logbook.
Federal officials condemned the deliberate actions and subsequent coverup. Acting Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim stated, “This case underscores our commitment to enforcing laws designed to protect our oceans.” Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Simpson added, “Companies that pollute and attempt to hide their crimes will be held accountable.”
Further compounding the offense, ESM admitted to retaliating against the crew member who reported the incident, destroying engine room documentation, and attempting to mislead Coast Guard investigators. The vessel’s chief engineer, who orchestrated much of the coverup, has already been sentenced to over a year in federal prison.
Sentencing for Eagle Ship Management is scheduled for October 16, 2025. The case was investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard’s Criminal Investigations Division and prosecuted by the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Key Highlights of the Case:
- A whistleblower’s social media post in March 2021 exposed the secret nighttime dumping of oily bilge waste from the Gannet Bulker.
- Over 10,000 gallons of polluted water were illegally discharged into U.S. waters near New Orleans.
- The company violated the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) by failing to use pollution-control equipment and omitting the discharge from its oil record book.
- Eagle Ship Management has agreed to a $1.75 million criminal fine and a four-year term of court-supervised probation with mandatory compliance monitoring.
- The vessel’s chief engineer was sentenced to 13 months in federal prison for his role in the offense and its coverup.
- Investigators found that ESM retaliated against the whistleblower, destroyed engine room documents, and misled U.S. Coast Guard officials.
- The investigation and prosecution were conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard, DOJ Environmental Crimes Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
This case highlights ongoing federal efforts to enforce environmental protections in the maritime industry and the vital role whistleblowers play in bringing such violations to light.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA * CRIMINAL NO. 25-138
* SECTION: EV.
EAGLE SHIP MANAGEMENT, LLC
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