Miami, FL — A Florida woman has been sentenced to probation and home confinement after pleading guilty to illegally discharging oil into U.S. and international waters from a scuba charter vessel she operated for years.
Liza Hash, owner and operator of the sailing vessel S/V Juliet, was sentenced on May 23, 2025, to one year of probation, including 60 days of home confinement, and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine. Hash pleaded guilty to violating the Clean Water Act by discharging oil into U.S. and contiguous zone waters (33 U.S.C. §§ 1319(c)(2), 1321(b)(3)).
According to court records, Hash ran the Juliet for extended scuba diving excursions between Miami and the Bahamas, consistently transporting up to 12 passengers per trip for around six years.
The inquiry commenced on June 16, 2023, when U.S. Coast Guard officials boarded the vessel as it returned to Miami from the Bahamas. Inspectors noted an active oil sheen in the water trailing behind the boat. A following safety inspection uncovered oil-contaminated water in the bilge and a pump system that was illegally linked to the vessel’s grey water tank — which is designated solely for wastewater from sinks, showers, and laundry facilities.
Investigators determined that Hash had utilized the grey water tank to store and discharge oily bilge water into the ocean, a practice that is illegal under federal law. Over a period of five years, it is estimated that around 26,000 gallons of oily water were unlawfully released into the sea.
Hash’s sentencing highlights the gravity of environmental offenses at sea and emphasizes the federal government’s dedication to safeguarding marine ecosystems and enforcing pollution regulations.
“This case is a stark reminder that environmental regulations exist for a reason,” said a Coast Guard official familiar with the investigation. “Operators who pollute our waters will be held accountable.”
