Rolando Vano, a chief engineer of Sanford's vessel, San Nikunau, has pleaded guilty to violating a US law designed to protect the sea from polluting oil discharges.
Vano is charged with with obstruction of justice and violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships. He is currently awaiting trial, as is Sanford and another prior chief engineer, James Pogue.
According to Vano's plea agreement, it was routine practice on San Nikunau to discharge oily bilge waste from the engine room and other areas of the vessel directly into the sea without using required pollution prevention equipment.
