Carnival pleads guilty to pollution, probation violations; cruise line fined $20M

Kennywood

Kennywood
Joined
Jan 1, 2012
MIAMI – Carnival Corp. reached a settlement Monday with federal prosecutors in which the world’s largest cruise line agreed to pay a $20 million penalty because its ships continued to pollute the oceans despite a previous criminal conviction aimed at curbing similar conduct.

Senior U.S. District Judge Patricia Seitz approved the agreement after Carnival CEO Arnold Donald stood up in open court and admitted the company’s responsibility for probation violations stemming from the previous environmental case.

“The company pleads guilty,” Arnold said six times in a packed courtroom that include other senior Carnival executives, including company chairman and Miami Heat owner Micky Arison.

“We acknowledge the shortcomings. I am here today to formulate a plan to fix them,” Arnold added.

“The proof will be in the pudding, won’t it?” the judge replied. “If you all did not have the environment, you would have nothing to sell.”

Carnival admitted violating terms of probation from a 2016 criminal conviction for discharging oily waste from its Princess Cruise Lines ships and covering it up. Carnival paid a $40 million fine and was put on five years’ probation in that case, which affected all nine of its cruise brands that boast more than 100 ships.

Now Carnival has acknowledged that in the years since its ships have committed environmental crimes such as dumping “gray water” in prohibited places such Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park and knowingly allowing plastic to be discharged along with food waste in the Bahamas, which poses a severe threat to marine life.

The company also admitted falsifying compliance documents and other administrative violations such as having cleanup teams visit its ships just before scheduled inspections.

Seitz at an earlier hearing threatened to bar Carnival from docking at U.S. ports because of the violations and said she might hold executives individually liable for the probation violations.

“The concern I have is that senior management has no skin in the game,” Seitz said, adding that future violations might be met with prison time and criminal fines for individuals. “My goal is to have the defendant change its behavior.”

Under the settlement, Carnival promised there will be additional audits to check for violations, a restructuring of the company’s compliance and training programs, a better system for reporting environmental violations to state and federal agencies and improved waste management practices.

The agreement also would set Sept. 13 and Oct. 9 deadlines to create an improved compliance plan and make other changes, subject to fines of $1 million per day if those deadlines are not met. If a second round of deadlines are not met, the fines could go up to $10 million a day.

Other proposed changes include a reduction by Carnival in the use of single-use plastic items across its entire fleet and creation of “tiger teams” meant to make improvements in the ships’ food and beverage systems and how waste is handled at sea.

Seitz is retiring later this year and is turning over the case to U.S. District Judge Ursula Ungaro, who jointly presided over Monday’s hearing.

Three people who claimed they were victims of Carnival’s environmental violations attended the hearing. Their attorney, Knoll Lowney, expressed skepticism that Carnival will keep its word this time.

“Time and time again, Carnival has shown its contempt of environmental laws and the rule of law,” he said. “Here we are again.”

Source: USA Today - Carnival pleads guilty to pollution, probation violations; cruise line fined $20M
 


I'm not sure that that matters much: CCL's biggest error was getting caught. I'm not convinced that NCL, RCCL and the rest aren't also making the same kinds of errors and just getting away with it. (Also keep in mind that CCL has a higher probability of making errors and getting caught since they serve more cruise passengers than all other cruise lines combined.)
 


I still don't understand what they did that everyone is so outraged about? So they dump some partially treated sewage in the ocean? That seems minor to compared to what Victoria Canada does. A region of 500,000 people dumps completely untreated raw sewage into the Puget Sound every day. Can someone explain to me how a cruise ship with 3,000 people dumping partially treated sewage into the ocean causes more impacts?
 
I still don't understand what they did that everyone is so outraged about? So they dump some partially treated sewage in the ocean? That seems minor to compared to what Victoria Canada does. A region of 500,000 people dumps completely untreated raw sewage into the Puget Sound every day. Can someone explain to me how a cruise ship with 3,000 people dumping partially treated sewage into the ocean causes more impacts?

Did you read it- plastic dumped in the Bahamas also.
 
If they paid $40 million the first time and $20 million now, clearly the fine isn’t enough to curb the behavior. And nowhere near enough to mitigate the damage...

I wish part of the fine was 100% removal of their Glacier Bay permits and a ban on them even bidding for them for at least 10 or more years! Maybe THAT would get their attention since they own most of the permits and some people choose their brands because of that part of the cruise.
 
They have done so much damage to the environment and are continuously violating all the regulations. They deserve to be fined more! I hope they really change their ways and not just cover up their wrongdoings. The judge is right, they wouldn't have a business if not for the environment they are completely damaging.
 
I feel so bad for the marine life that has been harmed because of Carnival doing this. That is so messed up they would dump plastics into the ocean. I've never sailed with them before, but definitely won't now. I hate when animals get harmed because of stupid humans.
 
I feel so bad for the marine life that has been harmed because of Carnival doing this. That is so messed up they would dump plastics into the ocean. I've never sailed with them before, but definitely won't now. I hate when animals get harmed because of stupid humans.

Princess (which I believe you've said you sailed as a kid) is part of the Carnival Corporation.
 
Yes I am aware of that.

Ok, just saying since you said you had never sailed with them. Actually Princess was the line cited in the article I found about it. They are fining the corporation, not just Carnival ships.

“In the new documents, Princess “admits that it committed the violations” outlined earlier this year by prosecutors. These include dumping “gray water” in prohibited places such as the Bahamas and knowingly allowing plastic to be discharged along with food waste, which poses a severe threat to marine life.”
 
Ok, just saying since you said you had never sailed with them. Actually Princess was the line cited in the article I found about it. They are fining the corporation, not just Carnival ships.

“In the new documents, Princess “admits that it committed the violations” outlined earlier this year by prosecutors. These include dumping “gray water” in prohibited places such as the Bahamas and knowingly allowing plastic to be discharged along with food waste, which poses a severe threat to marine life.”
Well I haven't sailed with Princess since I was 18 and I just turned 30 so it's been a while. The articles I read I didn't see any mention of a specific cruise ship, just the Carnival corporation, which I know Princess falls under. Lately I've only been sailing with Disney. I'm not sure if you saw my other post, but I think a lot of land trips will be in my future over cruises.
 
Didn't the judge threaten to hold the execs personally responsible? That would be a step in the right direction, since they are the ones putting up with and maybe even encouraging that behaviour. Also agree. Why do they have permits to Glacier Bay when they are trashing the place?

There is a link to email on this page. I just sent an email asking that their permits be pulled in light of this admission. It may not do any good, but maybe it will.

https://www.nps.gov/glba/contacts.htm
 
MIAMI – Carnival Corp. reached a settlement Monday with federal prosecutors in which the world’s largest cruise line agreed to pay a $20 million penalty because its ships continued to pollute the oceans despite a previous criminal conviction aimed at curbing similar conduct.

Senior U.S. District Judge Patricia Seitz approved the agreement after Carnival CEO Arnold Donald stood up in open court and admitted the company’s responsibility for probation violations stemming from the previous environmental case.

“The company pleads guilty,” Arnold said six times in a packed courtroom that include other senior Carnival executives, including company chairman and Miami Heat owner Micky Arison.

“We acknowledge the shortcomings. I am here today to formulate a plan to fix them,” Arnold added.

“The proof will be in the pudding, won’t it?” the judge replied. “If you all did not have the environment, you would have nothing to sell.”

Carnival admitted violating terms of probation from a 2016 criminal conviction for discharging oily waste from its Princess Cruise Lines ships and covering it up. Carnival paid a $40 million fine and was put on five years’ probation in that case, which affected all nine of its cruise brands that boast more than 100 ships.

Now Carnival has acknowledged that in the years since its ships have committed environmental crimes such as dumping “gray water” in prohibited places such Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park and knowingly allowing plastic to be discharged along with food waste in the Bahamas, which poses a severe threat to marine life.

The company also admitted falsifying compliance documents and other administrative violations such as having cleanup teams visit its ships just before scheduled inspections.

Seitz at an earlier hearing threatened to bar Carnival from docking at U.S. ports because of the violations and said she might hold executives individually liable for the probation violations.

“The concern I have is that senior management has no skin in the game,” Seitz said, adding that future violations might be met with prison time and criminal fines for individuals. “My goal is to have the defendant change its behavior.”

Under the settlement, Carnival promised there will be additional audits to check for violations, a restructuring of the company’s compliance and training programs, a better system for reporting environmental violations to state and federal agencies and improved waste management practices.

The agreement also would set Sept. 13 and Oct. 9 deadlines to create an improved compliance plan and make other changes, subject to fines of $1 million per day if those deadlines are not met. If a second round of deadlines are not met, the fines could go up to $10 million a day.

Other proposed changes include a reduction by Carnival in the use of single-use plastic items across its entire fleet and creation of “tiger teams” meant to make improvements in the ships’ food and beverage systems and how waste is handled at sea.

Seitz is retiring later this year and is turning over the case to U.S. District Judge Ursula Ungaro, who jointly presided over Monday’s hearing.

Three people who claimed they were victims of Carnival’s environmental violations attended the hearing. Their attorney, Knoll Lowney, expressed skepticism that Carnival will keep its word this time.

“Time and time again, Carnival has shown its contempt of environmental laws and the rule of law,” he said. “Here we are again.”

Source: USA Today - Carnival pleads guilty to pollution, probation violations; cruise line fined $20M

I'm a big fan of Carnival but what they did was wrong and they have to assume the consequences. Hopefully, they'll learn from that.
 
I feel so bad for the marine life that has been harmed because of Carnival doing this. That is so messed up they would dump plastics into the ocean. I've never sailed with them before, but definitely won't now. I hate when animals get harmed because of stupid humans.

Side note: While we're talking about animals getting harmed... I wish cruise lines would stop selling those stupid and terrible dolphins swim!!!
 

GET A DISNEY VACATION QUOTE

Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.

Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!





Latest posts




Top