Disrepair and poor management led a commercial tank barge to dump 10,000 gallons of oily water off the coast of Atlantic City, N.J., in 2021, the federal government alleged in a new suit. That’s according to Bloomberg Law.
Unico Marine Services LLC deferred maintenance and cut corners to keep two vessels in operation despite being unfit for the rough waters they encountered, according to the complaint filed Thursday, AUG 29, 2024 in the US District Court for the District of New Jersey.
“Discharging oil overboard during a commercial voyage enabled the articulated vessels to stay at sea longer to pick up and deliver asphalt, thereby increasing profits.
Barge Operator Accused of Illegal Oil Dumping Near Atlantic City
On September 1, 2021, Unico Marine’s commercial tank barge, the Acadia, and its articulated towing vessel, the Teresa (together, the “articulated vessels”), set sail from the Port of Bayonne, New Jersey, for Curacao. The articulated vessels were not prepared for the journey.
Unico Marine had cut corners to cut costs. To keep the articulated vessels working as much as possible, Unico Marine deferred maintenance and shirked proper management of the vessels. When they shoved off, the certificate of inspection (“COI”) for the Acadia was invalid.
