Cruise

[Caribbean Jake]

http://www.cruisejunkie.com/envirofines.html

 

Year

 

March 2006

Texas Treasure, Corpus Christ Day Cruise

The ship's operator plead guilty to obstructing a US Coast Guary investigation into whether the ship had illegally discharged waste oil and deliberately bybassed its pollution prevention equipment. The incidents occured in October 2004. Sentencing is scheduled for April 25, 2006; the porposed plea agreement includes a $300,000 fine and the institution of an Environmental Compliance Plan. $300,000

Oil discharges

 

June 2005

Norwegian Star, Norwegian Cruise Line

While docked in Victoria (British Columbia) local residents near the port complained of a noxious odour pervading their homes following release of a billow of black smoke from the ship's smokestack. The cruise line didn't notify the port, so inquiries were told it was being looked into. What was determined was that while fixing a diesel-powered electricity generator, the engine had to be restarted several times. On two of those restarts the engine emitted heavy black smoke which triggered the ship's own onboard smoke emission alarms. In each of those two occasions the smoke was emitted for less than 30 seconds. It was the source of the noxious odour. There was no fine because the emission was due to equipment breakdown. None

Air pollution

 

March 2005

Disclosures of violation of MOU between the State of Hawai'i and the cruise industry: On March 12th the Honolulu Advertiser reported that Norwegian Cruise Line America's Pride of Aloha discharged about 70 tons of treated effluent into Honolulu Harbor last month, violating a voluntary agreement with the state. The state's agreement with the cruise ships allows such discharges at least a mile out from shore while traveling at least 6 knots. On March 16th, West Hawaii Today reported it had received numerous calls that Holland America's Statendam discharged what appeared to be "brown water" into Kailua Bay for about 15 minutes to 20 minutes before it moved further out to sea. Several of the callers reported the discharge left a "brown mark" on the vessel's side. None

Violation of MOU

 

January 2005

The Washington State Department of Ecology issued a press release indicating 3 violations of its MOU with the cruise industry. One violation occurred on May 13 in Port Angeles, when Holland America Line's Zaandam discharged treated effluent through an advanced wastewater treatment system that Ecology had not approved. The Zaandam made only one port call in Washington in 2004. Princess Cruises' Sapphire Princess discharged treated effluent throughout the 2004 season through an advanced treatment system that had not received Ecology approval. The ship also released untreated waste water from its galleys and laundry during one voyage between Seattle and Victoria in June. Ecology is investigating the June discharge. None

Violation of MOU

 

December 2004

SunCruz, JAB America

JAB America, Inc., pleaded guilty to charges that one (1) of its vessels, the SunCruz VI, dumped garbage off its deck into waters of the United States while departing from Port Everglades on April 24, 2004. US Coast Guard surveillance equipment observed and recorded several filled plastic garbage bags being dumped overboard from the vessel into Government Cut near Fort Lauderdale. Unknown

Plastic and garbage

 

November 2004

Holland America Line (Carnival Corporation)

In August 2004, Holland America Line was notified by the National Park Service ("NPS") that the Volendam and Statendam may have violated opacity standards while operating in Glacier Bay. On November 10, 2004, NPS notified Holland America Line in separate letters that a Violation of Record would beentered in the permanent park files for each ship. None

Air opacity

 

October 13, 2004

Pride of Aloha, NCL America

Discharged approximately 300 gallons of effluent into Hilo Harbour

None

Violation of MOU

 

June 2004

Holland America Line (Carnival Corporation)

Former Vice President, Richard K. Softye, was fined $10,000 after pleading guilty to falsely certifying that Holland America Line was performing environmental audits when it wasn't. He was also ordered to perform 450 hours of community service while on probation for three years.

$10,000

Falsifying record

 

March 2004

Carnival Corporation

Carnival Corporation reported in its 10Q filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that on March 5, 2004, Holland America Line notified the United States and Netherlands governmental authorities that one of its chief engineers had admitted to improperly processing bilge water on the Noordam. A subsequent internal investigation determined that the improper operation may have begun in January 2004 and may have continued sporadically through March 4, 2004. The matter had also been raised by Coast Guard officials in San Juan, Puerto Rico to their counterparts in Tampa following a report to them of the incidents. It isn't clear whether Holland America's self-report predates the report made by the Coast Guard. Holland America Line and three shipboard engineers have received grand jury subpoenas from the Office of the U.S. Attorney in Tampa, FL (where the ship was homeported). (See CCL 10Q filed with the SEC on April 8, 2004)

 

December 2003

The Honolulu Advertiser reported there had been at least 14 violations of Hawai'i's MOU with the cruise industry in the first year. See Hawai'i MOU.html

None

Violation of MOU

October 2003

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Line paid $200,000 administrative fee to settle with the California State Lands Commission over the cruise line's noncompliance with state ballast water law.

$200,000

Ballast water

 

Summer 2003

1 ship cited for violation of Alaska's air opacity regulations

Air pollution

 

August 2003

Carnival Corporation

In a petition filed with the U.S. District Court in Miami late last month, Carnival's probation officer in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., accused the company of violating terms of its probation by filing 12 false audit reports and asked that Carnival be required to pay another community-service fine. Carnival officials said they fired three environmental-compliance employees responsible for the reports. But the company did not admit to violating its probation.

 

August 2003

At the new cruise ship terminal at the Port of Seattle, cruise ships fail to abide by requirement to use low-sulfur diesel while docked