Newcastle Port Corporation v RN Dredging BV [2013] NSWLEC 217

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Newcastle Port Corporation v RN Dredging BV [2013] NSWLEC 217 Hearing dates: 14 June 2013 Decision date: 19 December 2013 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Sheahan J Decision: (1)The Court finds the offence proved. (2)The defendant is convicted of the charge set out in the summons. (3)The defendant is fined the sum of $150,000. (4)The exhibits are retained. (5)The defendant is ordered to pay the prosecutor's costs, on a party-party basis, as agreed or assessed, and its reasonable investigation expenses. (6)Pursuant to s 8 of the Fines Act 1996 (NSW) the fine in Order (3) is ordered to be paid to the prosecutor. Catchwords: PROSECUTION: Marine Pollution Act 1987 s 8(1) - discharge of diesel oil from a ship into Newcastle Harbour - plea of guilty - mitigating factors - parity of sentence. Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1997 Marine Pollution Act 1987 (NSW) Fines Act 1996 (NSW) Cases Cited: Cabonne Shire Council v Environment Protection Authority [2001] NSWCCA 280; (2001) 115 LGERA 304 Environmental Protection Authority v Timber Industries Ltd [2001] NSWLEC 25 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 Filipowski v Cadem Shipping Pty Ltd [2005] NSWLEC 552 Filipowski v Fratelli D'Amato S.r.l and others [2000] NSWLEC 50; (2000) 108 LGERA 88 Filipowski v Hemina Holdings SA (No 2); Filipowski v Rajagopolan (No 2) [2009] NSWLEC 104 Filipowski v Island Maritime Ltd [2005] NSWLEC 73 Filipowski v Lyndon and ADI Ltd [2001] NSWLEC 139 Filipowski v Magnavia Schiffahrtsgesellschaft & Co Kommanditgesellschaft [2007] NSWLEC 404 Filipowski v Mediterranean Shipping Co SA [2005] NSWLEC 159 Filipowski v Schiffsbeteiligungsges m.b.H & Co KG; Kleemann [2004] NSWLEC 207; (2004) 134 LGERA 48 Filipowski v Vopak Terminals Sydney Pty Ltd [2006] NSWLEC 104 Filipowski v Wallenius Lines Singapore Pty Ltd [2002] NSWLEC 148 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 Morrison v Ausmarine Fisheries Pty Ltd (1995) 88 LGERA 442 Morrison v Che Mat (1997) 95 LGERA 212 Morrison v Defence Maritime Services Pty Ltd [2007] NSWLEC 421 Newcastle Port Corporation v MS Magdalene Schiffahrtsgesellschaft MBH; Newcastle Port Corporation v Vazhnenko [2013] NSWLEC 210 Plath v Rawson [2009] NSWLEC 178; (2009) 170 LGERA 253 R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 Category: Sentence Parties: Newcastle Port Corporation (Prosecutor) RN Dredging BV (Defendant) Representation: E G H Cox, Barrister (Prosecutor) G J Nell SC (Defendant) Piper Alderman (Prosecutor) James Neill Solicitors (Defendant) File Number(s): 50154 of 2013