BSH  kompakt

33

2005
•  The  water  police  authorities
of  the  German  coastal  states
checked  7,489  vessels
•  Deficiencies  were  found  in
1,322  cases,  131  of  which  were
referred  to  the  BSH  for  further
handling
•  161  proceedings  involved
administrative  offences
•  Fines  in  the  total  amount  of
€171,620
•  The  proceedings  were  stayed
in  41  cases
•  248  reported  cases  of  water
pollution
•  35  probable  polluters
identified
•  Analysis  of  64  oil  samples  as
part  of  criminal  proceedings
•  BSH  chairs  international
group  of  oil  identification
experts.

UNCOMPROMISING
Fines  for  environmental  offences

Effective  marine  environmental  protection  requires  monitoring  of  the  gradual,
persistent  changes  taking  place  in  the  natural  habitat.  Besides  monitoring,
our  focus  is  on  the  prosecution  of  environmental  offences  posing  an
immediate  threat  to  the  marine  environment.  The  BSH  prosecutes  violations  of
environmental  regulations  by  shipping  which  constitute  administrative  offences.
Fines  are  imposed,  e.g.,  for  violations  of  regulations  concerning  the  handling  of
chemicals,  ship’s  wastes  and  garbage.
We  are  also  dealing  with  illegal  discharge  lines  bypassing  the  engine  room
control  systems,  which  are  used  to  discharge  oily  residues  overboard.
Environmental  polluters  at  sea  can  be  clearlyidentified  by  means  of  a  computeraided
  method  that  has  been  developed  by  the  BSH  and  allows  precise  pollutant
analyses.  The  BSH  oil  identification  method  is  also  made  available  to  third
parties  within  the  framework  of  international  co-operation.