Greek Chief Engineer charged with dumping oil

From The Mercury News - San Jose, CA

Federal officials are charging Greek citizen Pantelis Thomas, who served as Chief Engineer aboard the Maltese flagged M/V RIO GOLD.  Thomas is accused of ordering crew members to fabricate a “magic pipe” to illegally discharge oil and other hazardous substances overboard. 

One of the crew members turned over a photograph of the magic pipe taken with his mobile telephone while the ship was steaming toward Oakland, CA.

Thomas, a Greek citizen, can’t leave the U.S. until the case is resolved. His lawyer also said that at least eight foreign crew members who will serve as witnesses are also being prohibited from leaving the country.

M/V RIO GOLD (Courtesy of Shipspotting.com)