Molaris Stamatis-led shipowner and operator Empire Bulkers Ltd and Joanna Maritime Limited, two affiliated firms headquartered in Athens, received sentencing in the United States last week for deliberately and knowingly breaching the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) and the Ports and Waterways Safety Act in connection to their roles as the operator and shipowner of 2010 built handysize bulk carrier 33K DWT MV Joanna. The legal action originates from an inspection conducted in March 2022 on the 2010 built handysize bulk carrier 33K DWT MV Joanna in New Orleans, which revealed that the required pollution-prevention equipment had been tampered with to enable the manipulation of the sensor intended to detect the oil content of bilge waste being discharged overboard. Additionally, MV Joanna’s oil record book, a mandatory log presented to the US Coast Guard, had been falsified to conceal these improper discharges. Furthermore, the US Coast Guard also uncovered an unreported safety hazard. Inspectors discovered an active fuel oil leak in Athens-based shipowner and operator Empire Bulkers Ltd controlled MV Joanna’s engine room, where the pressure relief valves on the fuel oil heaters, a critical safety device necessary to prevent explosions, had been rendered inoperative. In admitting guilt, the defendants Empire Bulkers Ltd and Joanna Maritime Limited conceded that the plugging of the relief valves in the fuel oil purifier room and the significant volume of oil leaking from the pressure relief valve posed hazardous conditions that had not been promptly reported to the US Coast Guard, thus violating the Ports and Waterways Safety Act. US District Court Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon ordered the two affiliated companies, Molaris Stamatis-led shipowner and operator Empire Bulkers Ltd and Joanna Maritime Limited, to each pay a $1 million fine and serve four years of probation, subject to the conditions of a government-approved environmental compliance plan. 23-January-2023
Athens-based shipowner and operator Empire Bulkers Ltd was fined over knowing and wilful pollution violations in the United States of America (USA). Department of Justice expresses Stamatis Molaris-led Empire Bulkers Ltd will pay $2 million for tampering with pollution prevention equipment on 2010 built handysize bulk carrier 33K DWT MV Joanna. 2010 built handysize bulk carrier 33K DWT MV Joanna is owned by Joanna Maritime which is affiliated to Stamatis Molaris-led Empire Bulkers Ltd. Joanna Maritime has been fined $2 million for committing knowing and wilful violations of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) and the Ports and Waterways Safety Act. Empire Bulkers Ltd and Joanna Maritime admitted tampering with pollution prevention equipment and failing to immediately report hazardous conditions on the Mississippi River in a case concerning 2010 built handysize bulk carrier 33K DWT MV Joanna. Currently, Empire Bulkers Ltd controls eleven (11) bulk carriers. Furthermore, Greek Stamatis Molaris-led Empire Navigation (Empire Group of Companies) controls twelve (12) tankers. 21-January-2023
Athens-based shipowner and operator Empire Bulkers Ltd controlled MV Joanna’s chief engineer Warlito Tan found himself facing charges alongside Empire Bulkers and Joanna Maritime Limited. The allegations pertained to supposed violations of environmental and safety laws. These grave infractions came to light during a thorough inspection of Empire Bulkers Ltd controlled MV Joanna conducted by the vigilant US Coast Guard in March 2021. However, the tides turned in favor of MV Joanna’s chief engineer Warlito Tan, as a federal jury in New Orleans, on November 16, declared Warlito Tan not guilty of all charges, restoring his honor. On the other hand, the Athens-based shipowner and operator Empire Bulkers Ltd and Joanna Maritime Limited opted for a different path, as they pleaded guilty to all the charges in May. Empire Bulkers Ltd and Joanna Maritime Limited openly acknowledged their wrongful actions, which included knowingly falsifying MV Joanna’s oil record book and clandestinely disposing of oil-contaminated waste overboard. Interestingly, MV Joanna’s chief engineer Warlito Tan’s signature appeared on some of these discharge entries in the oil record book, but it was affirmed that Warlito Tan had no involvement in the operations and was oblivious to their accuracy. Moreover, Athens-based shipowner and operator Empire Bulkers Ltd and Joanna Maritime Limited admitted to tampering with the discharge line from the pressure relief valves in the purifier room, a reckless act that could have potentially led to a catastrophic fire or explosion on board. Greek Stamatis Molaris-led Empire Navigation and Empire Bulkers (Empire Group of Companies) controls bulk carriers and tankers. 17-November-2022
Athens-based shipowner and operator Empire Bulkers Ltd and Joanna Maritime Limited stand accused in New Orleans of transgressing environmental and safety laws in relation to the handysize bulk carrier 33K DWT MV Joanna. The four-count grand jury indictment contends that Athens-based shipowner and operator Empire Bulkers Ltd and Joanna Maritime Limited and MV Joanna’s chief engineer Warlito Tan meddled with mandatory oil pollution prevention equipment and falsified the MV Joanna’s oil record book. The US Coast Guard, which routinely scrutinizes ships’ records, discovered that the oily water separator on the ships had been bypassed by surreptitiously inserting a metal piece into the oil content meter. This manipulation ensured that the meter would only detect clean water, rather than the actual discharge overboard. As the indictment alleges, MV Joanna’s chief engineer Warlito Tan and the shipping companies Empire Bulkers Ltd and Joanna Maritime Limited conspired to falsify the log, seeking to obstruct the US Coast Guard’s inspection. Moreover, Athens-based shipowner and operator Empire Bulkers Ltd and Joanna Maritime Limited and MV Joanna’s chief engineer Warlito Tan face charges of violating the Ports and Waterways Safety Act by neglecting to promptly report a hazardous situation that endangered the ship’s safety and posed a threat to US ports and waters. During the inspection on 11 March 2021, the Coast Guard discovered an active fuel oil leak in the MV Joanna’s purifier room. This leak resulted from disabling the fuel oil heater pressure relief valves, which are crucial safety features designed to prevent catastrophic fires and explosions. An indictment comprises allegations of probable cause made by a grand jury and must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt during the trial. 3-October-2021
Athens-based shipowner and operator Empire Bulkers Ltd sold 2006 built panamax bulk carrier 76K DWT MV Jasmine A for around $12 million. Greek Stamatis Molaris-led Empire Bulkers Ltd sold MV Jasmine A at a substantially higher price than what Empire Bulkers Ltd paid to buy it in 2017. In 2017, Greek shipowner and operator Empire Bulkers Ltd acquired MV Jasmine A for around $8 million from Japanese shipowner and operator Nissen Kaiun. Empire Bulkers Ltd has been selling vintage bulk carriers and renewing the fleet. Currently, Empire Bulkers Ltd controls nine (9) handysize bulk carriers and five (5) large bulk carriers. Furthermore, Greek Stamatis Molaris-led Empire Navigation (Empire Group of Companies) controls twenty (20) tankers. 16-March-2021
Athens-based Molaris Stamatis-led shipowner and operator Empire Bulkers Ltd is establishing a strategic partnership with Dubai-based Gulf Navigation Holding PJSC. Greek Stamatis Molaris-led Empire Navigation and Empire Bulkers (Empire Group of Companies) controls 16 bulk carriers and 20 tankers. Gulf Navigation Holding will support Empire Navigation and Empire Bulkers to penetrate new markets and increase its customer base. Gulf Navigation announced this strategic partnership will be the commencement of a broader range of businesses with Empire Navigation and Empire Bulkers (Empire Group of Companies). Currently, Greek shipowner and operator Empire Navigation and Empire Bulkers (Empire Group of Companies) is already in different geographical regions and has a large charterer base. Gulf Navigation’s strategic partnership will also offer great opportunities through the transfer of expertise and producing distinct projects, as well as mutual benefits to Empire Navigation and Empire Bulkers (Empire Group of Companies). Dubai-based Gulf Navigation Holding PJSC has a fleet of chemical tankers, livestock carriers, offshore support vessels. In 2020, Greek shipowner and operator Empire Bulkers Ltd involved in at least five (5) S&P (Sale and Purchase). In October 2020, Empire Bulkers Ltd sold 2005 built supramax bulk carrier 55K DWT MV Neraida for around $8 million. In July 2020, Empire Bulkers Ltd acquired a 2011 built handy bulk carrier 32K DWT MV Vasilis (ex MV Maratha Paramount) and 2012 built handy bulk carrier 32K DWT Fuzeyya (ex MV Maratha Prudence) for around $8 million per ship. 21-February-2021
In July 2020, Athens-based Molaris Stamatis-led shipowner and operator Empire Bulkers Ltd. acquired 2011 built handysize bulk carrier 32K DWT MV Vasilis (ex MV Maratha Paramount) and 2012 built handysize bulk carrier 32K DWT MV Fuzeyya (ex MV Maratha Prudence) for around $8 million each from Chowgule Steamship. Greek shipowner and operator Empire Bulkers Ltd. allocated some funds to acquire MV Vasilis (ex MV Maratha Paramount) and MV Fuzeyya (ex MV Maratha Prudence) by selling MV Feyha and MV Diana. Empire Bulkers Ltd. sold 2010 built handysize bulk carrier 37K DWT MV Pacific 06 (ex MV Feyha) and 2009 built handysize bulk carrier 37K DWT MV Pacific 05 (ex MV Diana) for around $11.5 million en-block to Vietnamese shipowner. 13-August-2020
Athens-based Molaris Stamatis-led shipowner and operator Empire Bulkers Ltd. sold 2010 built panamax bulk carrier 93K DWT MV Dimitra for around $12.6 million to Greek shipowners. Stamatis Molaris led Empire Bulkers recorded loss on the sale of post-panamax bulk carrier MV Dimitra. In July 2013, Empire Bulkers acquired MV Dimitra for $20 million. According to market veterans, MV Dimitra is worth between $11.8 million and $13.4 million. In March 2019, Greek Empire Bulkers Ltd. sold 2005 built panamax bulk carrier 76K DWT MV Elnath (ex MV Rosali) to another Greek shipowner Niiris Shipping for around $10 million. In June 2016, Empire Bulkers Ltd. bought MV Elnath (ex MV Rosali) for around $7.5 million. 24-September-2019
Athens-based shipowner and operator Empire Bulkers Ltd was excused by the United Kingdom High Court from liability for damaged deck cargo due to the wording of a B/L (Bill of Lading). Empire Bulkers Ltd operated 2016 built handysize bulk carrier 34K DWT MV Elin was loaded steel cargo from Thailand to Algeria. Empire Bulkers Ltd operated MV Elin confronted troublesome seas and some of the steel cargo was lost or damaged. The important B/L (Bill of Lading) clause asserted that Empire Bulkers Ltd is not responsible for loss or damage to cargo loaded on deck and on-deck cargo is at the shipper’s risk. Cargo interests Globtainer, Algerian Qatari Steel, and AIG Europe. The cargo interests claimed that the cargo loss or damage was caused by the Empire Bulkers Ltd’s breach of duty. Cargo interests Globtainer, Algerian Qatari Steel, and AIG Europe claimed that the Empire Bulkers Ltd failed to exercise due diligence to make the ship seaworthy at the start of the voyage. However, the judge pronounced that as a matter of plain language and good commercial sense the shipowner’s interpretation of the clause should be preferred.
The judge explained the meaning of the phrase that Empire Bulkers Ltd is not liable for any loss or damage to deck cargo howsoever arising. On a valid format of the B/L (Bill of Lading), the shipowner is not liable for any loss of or damage to any cargo carried on deck, including loss of or damage to any cargo carried on deck caused by the unseaworthiness of the ship and/or the shipowner’s negligence. 23-May-2019
Athens based shipowner and operator Empire Bulkers Ltd. bought 2006 built panamax bulk carrier 76K DWT MV Red Jasmin for around $8 million. In December 2016, shipowner and operator Empire Bulkers Ltd. bought another 2010 built panamax bulk carrier 80K DWT MV Maverick Gunner at auction for around $13 million. Currently, Greek Empire Bulkers Ltd. manages a fleet of 15 bulk carriers. 26-January-2017
Athens-based Molaris Stamatis-led shipowner and operator Empire Bulkers Ltd. has recently acquired 2010 built kamsarmax bulk carrier 80K DWT MV Maverick Gunner from its compatriot shipowner and operator Efploia Shipping. Molaris Stamatis-led shipowner and operator Empire Bulkers Ltd. will pay around $13.25 million for 2010 built kamsarmax bulk carrier 80K DWT MV Maverick Gunner. Athens-based shipowner and operator Empire Bulkers Ltd. emerged as a distinguished entity in March 2013 following a spin-off from Empire Navigation. The heightened level of activity in bulk carrier S&P (sale and purchase) this year is, in part, a consequence of the persistently depressed dry bulk market conditions. The prolonged duration of this downturn has imposed a severe financial strain on bulk carrier shipowners, which has been further compounded by mounting pressure from banks. Consequently, a significant portion of secondhand transactions this year can be attributed to distressed’ sales. 20-December-2016
Athens-based Molaris Stamatis-led shipowner and operator Empire Bulkers Ltd. has been actively engaged in the S&P (Sale and Purchase) markets. Empire Bulkers Ltd. swiftly acquired two bulk carriers MV Argo and MV Indigo in a remarkable en bloc transaction for a mere $12.9 million. Remarkably, MV Argo and MV Indigo had exchanged ownerships in the preceding three years at substantially higher prices of $21 million and $15 million, respectively. In addition, Athens-based Molaris Stamatis-led shipowner and operator Empire Bulkers Ltd made an astute move by acquiring another efficient handysize bulk carrier MV Quinn J, at the price of $9.5 million from the esteemed New York-based shipowner Apex Marine Corp. Founded in 2009, Greek Stamatis Molaris-led Empire Navigation and Empire Bulkers (Empire Group of Companies) controls bulk carriers and tankers. 3-July-2016