Eagle Ship Management Faces $1.75 Million Fine for Oil Dumping Off U.S. Coast

Shipping Company Fined $1.75 Million For Dumping Oily Waste Off U.S. Coast — Eagle Ship Management, a Connecticut-based ship operator, is facing a major penalty after admitting to violating international maritime pollution laws. The company pleaded guilty to discharging oily bilge waste into U.S. waters near the Port of New Orleans, an act that not only breached environmental law but also placed marine ecosystems at severe risk.

Eagle Ship Management Faces $1.75 Million Fine

The violation stemmed from operations on the M/V Gannet Bulker, a foreign-flagged bulk carrier managed by Eagle Ship Management. Investigators discovered that nearly 39 cubic meters of oil-contaminated bilge water were deliberately pumped overboard without using pollution-prevention systems. Court filings revealed that the incident occurred in March 2021, and the crew concealed the act by failing to properly log the discharge.

The case escalated after a whistleblower crew member reported the illegal dumping through social media. This individual exposed the deliberate cover-up, which included falsified records and intimidation against those who spoke out. According to prosecutors, the crew destroyed computer evidence and even backdated reviews to discredit the whistleblower’s testimony.

As part of the plea agreement, Eagle Ship Management will pay a $1.75 million fine and serve four years of probation. Independent audits will also monitor the company’s environmental practices going forward. Meanwhile, the ship’s chief engineer was separately sentenced to prison for obstruction of justice and participation in the dumping scheme.

U.S. Coast Guard officials have reiterated their commitment to prosecuting maritime environmental crimes, warning that cases like this highlight systemic negligence within parts of the shipping industry. Eagle Ship Management’s sentencing is expected on October 16, and the case remains a landmark example of corporate accountability in maritime law.