Duane A. Evans, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana
United States Attorney Duane A. Evans has announced that Fei Wang, age 38, pled guilty to violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) and obstructing proceedings. He was sentenced to three months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $200 mandatory special assessment fee on January 24, 2025.
Wang, a Chinese national, served as Chief Engineer of the M/V ASL Singapore, a Chinese-owned bulk carrier registered in Liberia that trades in the United States. Upon its arrival in New Orleans on February 26, 2024, the U.S. Coast Guard inspected the vessel's Oil Record Books. Wang admitted to presenting these books while knowing they contained false entries and omitted information about discharging oily bilge water overboard before reaching the United States. These falsified logs were intended to hide that since at least October 2023—when Wang boarded—the crew had been dumping oily bilge water directly from the bilge holding tank without complying with international oil pollution regulations.
Court documents reveal that the crew used unauthorized equipment known as a "magic pipe" to dispose of oily bilge water unlawfully prior to Wang boarding and continuing during his tenure as Chief Engineer. The vessel’s Oily Water Separator was never properly used under his supervision.
Damon J. Youmans, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Coast Guard Investigative Service Gulf Field Office stated: “Today's sentencing highlights the commitment of the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) to hold individuals accountable for violations of MARPOL, particularly in cases involving the discharge of oily waste.” He added that CGIS would continue collaborating with partners from various departments including Justice's Environmental Crimes Division and U.S. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans to enforce environmental laws.
The investigation involved cooperation between multiple agencies including the Coast Guard Investigative Service and EPA Criminal Investigations Division with assistance from U.S. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine M. Calogero and G. Dall Kammer are prosecuting this case.
