Ionian Shipping & Trading and two other outfits are facing criminal charges on allegations that a product tanker violated US emissions controls in the waters off the Virgin Islands.

Prosecutors have alleged that the Greek shipowner's 8,016-dwt Ocean Princess (built 2003) burned fuel that exceeded the US Caribbean Emissions Control Area's 0.10% sulphur cap several times between March 2016 and September 2018 while calling on the port of St Croix.