USCG ALLEGATION CONCERNING VIOLATION OF MARPOL REGULATION BY M/T WILMINA

Oslo, 28.05.2010

With reference to the recent US Coast Guard detention concerning our vessel M/T Wilmina and the allegation by the US Coast Guard about violation of Marpol Regulation, we hereby provide you with the following latest update;

• The vessel sailed out Tuesday 25th May after having been detained since 5th May in Corpus Christi.

• The USCG has dropped the criminal case against the vessel, vessel crew members and our company.

• The Coast Guard initially demanded 12 crew members to remain within the Corpus Christi city limits for an undetermined period of time. 11 of these crew members have now been allowed to be repatriated to their home countries without any conditions.

• The 12th crew member, the "whistle blower", who was dismissed 4 weeks before arrival of the vessel in Corpus Christi, is in the custody of the US Custom Border Protection with criminal charges against him.

• A Captain of the Port (COTP) Order has been issued with reference to the Coast Guards reasons behind the detention. This we are looking forward to challenge legally as it is based upon totally unfounded allegations from two crew members (the “whistle blowers”).

• We are in the process of preparing an appeal to the USCG to have the records of the detention deleted and the COTP Order invalidated.

With regard to the final investigation report we are continuing to analyse the incident and a lot of the work is focusing on how we in the best possible way can eliminate the risk for ever again being exposed to a similar incident. This will encompass new technical arrangements, improved procedures and routines and increasing and documenting the competence and environmental awareness for the crew beyond the high goals they work towards.

Having been subject to this investigation and experienced the USCG behavior over the last few weeks, we are confident that the reasons given in the COTP Order will be proven baseless and that the detention will be deleted and the COTP Order invalidated in due course. This is likely to take some time to sort out unless there is a change in attitude from the USCG.

Awilco AS press release