The New Zealand Environment Court has fined the owners of the MV Liloa US$24,000 for a 1,000 litre heavy fuel oil spill in the Port of Tauranga.
German owners MS "Jule" Schiffahrtsgesellschaft GmbH & Co. KG, pleaded guilty to the charge of discharging a harmful substance into the water in the coastal marine area in July last year, the Bay of Plenty Regional Council reported. Speaking with IHS Maritime, Regional Council Pollution Prevention Manager Nick Zaman said it was a good outcome.
"We are very pleased with shipowners and their response," he said. "There was never any argument. They pleaded guilty and paid the clean-up costs on top of the fine. It