Carnival Fined $40M for Polluting the Ocean
Source: U.S. News and World Reports
By CURT ANDERSON, AP Legal Affairs Writer
MIAMI (AP) Princess Cruise Lines will pay a $40 million penalty after pleading guilty to seven federal charges in an illegal ocean pollution case that involved one ship's use of a so-called magic pipe to divert oily waste into the waters, authorities said Thursday.
Miami U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer told a news conference the penalty is the largest ever of its kind. A plea agreement filed in federal court also requires Carnival Corp., parent company of the Princess line, to submit 78 cruise ships across its eight brands to a five-year environmental compliance program overseen by a judge.
Ferrer said the illegal practices came to light when an engineer aboard the Caribbean Princess discovered the "magic pipe" in 2013 off the coast of Great Britain and told investigators about it. Authorities later learned the 952-foot ship had been illegally discharging oily water into the ocean since 2005.
"Our open seas are not dumping grounds for waste," Ferrer said. "One thing we must never do is take our clear blue oceans for granted."
A single illegal discharge dumped 4,227 gallons of oil-contaminated waste about 20 miles off the coast of England on Aug. 26, 2013, according to court documents.
The documents also show illegal practices were found on four other Princess ships, including use of clean ocean water to fool onboard sensors that would otherwise detect dumping of improperly contaminated bilge water. Authorities say cost savings was the motive and that the ship's officers and crew conspired to cover up what was going on.
"Although we had policies and procedures in place, it became apparent they were not fully effective," the statement said. "We are very sorry that this happened and have taken additional steps to ensure we meet or exceed all environmental requirements." (company statement, brackets are not part of article)
Read more: http://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2016-12-01/carnivals-princess-line-to-pay-40m-fine-in-pollution-case
Oh MY....you mean another HUGE.......company has polluted.....................
..this time the ocean...Last time ..Let me think??
Last time it was..???...hmmmmmmmmm It was the air we breath... Another.well known HUGE...auto company...Volkswagen ....is that correct? They cheated and lied on pollution tests, that overrode testing devices and facilities...But the chief executive did not know. Of course, he had noting to do with it. It was someone else. This is the most well known cruise line in the world..quote the story..."..illegally discharging oily water into the ocean since 2005.."..and the company lied about this?.... I can't believe it...
We need to reduce regulations
.....and if you believe that, I got a great bridge to sell you across the Atlantic Ocean...very reasonable I might add.......
OH.....it was just one ship????...... how about this paragraph from the article...
"The documents also show illegal practices were found on four other Princess ships, including use of clean ocean water to fool onboard sensors that would otherwise detect dumping of improperly contaminated bilge water."
= new reply since forum marked as read
