General Douglas MacArthur is often credited with saying, “Rules are mostly made to be broken…” and for the kinds of mavericks that often make rapid headway in the maritime industry the appearance of rule breaking is often seen as a badge of honor. Yet, these actions often come at a cost and can have serious, unintended outcomes.
From the then-record $37 million fine of Overseas Shipholding Group in 2007, to the current record $40 million criminal penalty of Holland America’s Princess lines in 2016, it’s obvious that while some rules may be “made to be broken,” maritime laws and regulations aren’t among them.
While the public perception of seafarers today may be closer to the rebels on Deadliest Catch than the buttoned-up crew of The Love Boat, the reality is, more ship owners and seafarers than ever…
