Plea Bargain Sees Bellavia Chief Engineer Freed After Illegal Bunker Discharge Case

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Friday October 3, 2014

U.S. law firm Arent Fox yesterday announced it has secured the release of Dejan Vodopic, the Croatian former Chief Engineer of box ship M/V Bellavia.

The U.S. government had been pursuing a prison term for Vodopic, accusing him and others of pumping bunker fuel out of a tank which was left compromised after an incident in the Panama Canal.

Vodopic was detained by U.S. authorities in October 2013 after four whistleblowers accused him and other crew members of illegally discharging oil into the Pacific Ocean in contravention of international maritime law.

The Bellavia was released after her operator, Herm. Dauelsberg GmbH & Co., paid a $1.25 million fine for failure to report a hazardous condition and failure to keep an accurate oil record book, but Vodopic and other crew handed over their passports.

$500,000 of the fine was split between the four whistleblowers.

In a bargain with prosecutors, Vodopic has now accepted a $15,000 fine and a three-year probationary sentence.

However, the former Captain of the Bellavia, Mitar Miseljic, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to defrauding the U.S.

In April Ship & Bunker reported details of the original incident and fine.

Ship & Bunker News Team
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