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The chief engineer of Liberian-operated cargo ship 'Capitola' was sentenced for obstructing an investigation after illegally discharging oily waste into the Port of Baltimore. Dimitrios Grifakis, 57, of Greece was sentenced to six months in prison followed by two years supervised release, for obstructing a Coast Guard inspection that took place aboard the 'Capitola' that was at the Port of Baltimore. In a related case, the Cardiff Marine, Inc., the shipping company that operates the 'Capitola' previously pleaded guilty to obstructing a Coast Guard examination and violated the Act to Prevent Pollution for Ships. The company received a $2.5 million fine, and served three years probation and is subject to an environmental compliance plan that includes audits by a third party. According to the plea and other court documents, the initial investigation was launched on May 3, 2010, at the Port after a crew member on board informed a clergy member that there had been "monkey business in the engine room," and it involved a "magic pipe." The "magic pipe" was a bypass hose that allowed waste oil to dump overboard.

The U.S. Department of Justice says that Dimitrios Grifakis, 57, of Kallithea, Greece, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Baltimore to obstructing a Coast Guard inspection that took place aboard the M/V Capitola from May 3 to May 11, 2010, MarineLog reports. Grifakis was then the Chief Engineer of the Capitola. http://www.marinelog.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=815:2011may00045&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=107