Two Greek shipping companies will pay a multi-million dollar fine and two crew members face possible prison time after discharging oil into two Texas ports, then lying to the US Coast Guard about it.
Vardinoyiannis Group company Avin International, shipowner Nicos IV Special Maritime Enterprises, master Rafail-Thomas Tsoumakos and chief officer Alexios Thomopoulos all pleaded guilty to charges stemming from three illegal releases of oil last summer in Beaumont, Texas federal court Tuesday, according to the US Justice Department.
