Fei Wang, a 38-year-old Chinese national, was sentenced to three months in prison for his role in an environmental violation on the high seas. According to United States Attorney Duane A. Evans, Wang, the Chief Engineer aboard the M/V ASL Singapore, pled guilty to charges of obstructing proceedings and violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS). His sentence includes three years of supervised release and a $200 special assessment fee.
According to a U.S. Attorney's Office release, the violation came to light after a U.S. Coast Guard inspection when the vessel arrived in New Orleans on February 26, 2024. Authorities discovered fraudulent entries in the Oil Record Books, which were meant to hide illegal activities. Wang admitted to submitting falsified documents to the Coast Guard. It was found that the ASL Singapore had been discharging oily bilge water overboard by using a "magic pipe" to bypass pollution controls, violating the MARPOL treaty. Wang’s actions began when he boarded the vessel in October 2023 and failed to properly use the Oily Water Separator during his tenure as Chief Engineer.
Damon J. Youmans, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Coast Guard Investigative Service, Gulf Field Office, said, "Today's sentencing highlights the commitment of the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) to hold individuals accountable for violations of MARPOL, particularly in cases involving the discharge of oily waste," in the same release. The case was investigated with the Environmental Protection Agency's Criminal Investigations Division, U.S. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine M. Calogero and G. Dall Kammer.
