The sentencing of ex-US Coast Guard chief warrant officer David Williams for lying about an oily water separator bypass aboard the cutter Rush (p10) certainly raises questions. How can shipping be assured this was a onetime crime, since the USCG itself polices OWS compliance? Why wasn't the USCG charged with violating the ships pollution act? Why were no higher-ups charged? How did Williams get off with just 200 hours of community service? We posed these questions to USCG headquarters, which revealed that a working group tc evaluate its vessel environmental programme found "opportunities for improvement". Changes are being implemented. The agency further conceded that it faces the same challenges as commercial shipping when operating OWS systems, but newer cutters will employ newer technology. In addition, the Coast Guard noted that it is exempt from punitive liability under the clean water and pollution prevention acts, but strives to comply with those standards.
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