Mariner convicted of oil waste violations

BOSTON -- A Ukrainian mariner faces up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges that he failed to maintain accurate records about oil disposal from a vessel on which he served.

Federal prosecutors say 44-year-old Vadym Tumakov falsified information in the M/T Nautilus's oil record book while the ship was in U.S. waters. Federal law requires all ships to account for waste oil and oil contaminated bilge water.

Tukamov ordered M/T Nautilus crew members in September 2007 to discharge oil contaminated bilge water into U.S. waters on two occasions without properly recording it.

He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine when sentenced on Dec. 10.

M/T Nautilus is owned by Cyprus-based Iceport Shipping Co. Ltd., and operated by Spain-based Consultores de Navegacion S.A.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)