Shipowner Schlussel Reederei is to pay a hefty $750,000 fine for pollution offences off the Pacific island of Hawaii.

The German KG company has admitted to failing to correctly maintain the oil record book on its 1,697-teu containership Ibuki (built 1994) although local reports suggest there were also faults relating to the disposal of oily waste and false statements were made to the US Coast Guard.

Schlussel has volunteered to replace or upgrade existing oily water separators on the Ibuki and 19 other ships with the most up to date equipment available and is aiming at standards significantly higher than required than by regulations.

The incident occurred in November when the Ibuki was stopped by the Coast Guard six miles off the main Hawaiian island of Oahu. The vessel was heading to California from Asia.

The local paper Pacific Business News quotes US Attorney, Mike Pupura, as saying inspectors found “oil spilled all over the vessel.”

The ship was eventually detained at Honolulu Harbor for repairs and seven crew members were required to stay in the country until the matter was resolved.

Schlussel insists there was little or no pollution, noting that under US law it is vicariously liability for illegal acts by seafarers regardless of whether the company had any knowledge of them.

The company is to be sentenced at the US District Court in Hawaii on 24 March.

Schlussel has admitted guilt in a plea bargain, agreed to the fine and will retain an independent consultant to review the effectiveness of its environment management system. Reports say the company will also be put on probation for two years.

Bremen based Schlussel said that on its own initiative it will require al its crew to receive additional training, instruction, and monitoring to ensure strict compliance with Marpol oil record book requirements and make sure that an incident of this nature cannot happen again.

The vessel is registered in Antigua and Barbuda and is classed by Germanischer Lloyd.

The prosecution is the latest in a Coast Guard clampdown on breaches of pollution prevention requirements in US water.

Edward H Kubo Jr the US attorney for Hawaii said: “This prosecution sends the significant message that the United States will vigorously enforce the laws designed to protect natural resources and environment.”

Schlussel said the Ibuki had complete drydocking five weeks prior to the incident, undergoing a class renewal survey by Germanischer Lloyd in addition to a full Marpol survey.