Source: The Southland Times
Sanford, the fisheries company currently facing charges of pollution, conspiracy and obstruction of justice relating to its San Nikunau vessel, revealed that a former crew member has entered into a plea agreement with the US Department of Justice.
The company’s tuna vessel was impounded in American Samoa last July for allegedly discharging oily bilge into the sea and presenting false documents to officials and the US Coast Guard. It subsequently saw a seven-charge indictment leveled against it under the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships.
Sanford released a statement yesterday afternoon saying it was aware “a Filipino relief chief engineer who served on the San Nikunau for a short time has entered into a plea agreementâ€, and that the company was not privy to the plea at this stage.
The company has vowed to vigorously defend the allegations, but if convicted it faces a maximum fine of US$3.5 million ($4.3 million), or US$500,000 per charge.
The San Nikunau was returned to the company in December after Sanford paid a US$1m bond and promised to make the ship’s crew available as witnesses in hearings on the charges.
Last year, Sanford posted an 11 per cent decline in net profit to $22.3m for the 12 months ending September 30, citing fleet disruptions as well as high currency and fuel prices for the drop.
During that period, Sanford also saw its San Nanumea tuna ship detained in American Samoa over injury claims from current and former crew.
Sanford shares opened unchanged at $4.10 this morning, and have declined about 27 per cent over the past 12 months.