Swedish Coast Guard Boards Chinese-Owned Bulker Hui Yuan off Ystad for Illegal Coal Discharge

The Swedish Coast Guard patrol vessel KBV 003 intercepted the Panama-flagged bulk carrier Hui Yuan at approximately 0800 on Sunday at a position off Ystad, southern Sweden, on suspicion of illegal discharge of coal residue into Baltic waters.

Swedish prosecutor Håkan Andersson told SVT that the master of the vessel admitted to committing the pollution offence through negligence. The ship posted a bond against potential future fines and was permitted to depart, in accordance with standard procedure.

Hui Yuan is Panama-flagged and owned in Guangzhou, China. AIS data indicates the vessel loaded coal at the Utramar terminal near Ust-Luga, Russia, last week and is currently broadcasting Las Palmas, Spain, as her destination.

"The shipping industry should know that Swedish authorities are working closely together to maintain order at sea. We are acting to increase maritime safety and protect the environment. If there is a suspicious vessel, we do intervene, based on the prevailing conditions," said Daniel Stenling, Deputy Head of the Swedish Coast Guard's Operations Department.

A criminal investigation into the pollution offence is ongoing under prosecutorial direction.