Not Again! Carnival Magic accused
of discharging waste while calling in Grand Turk
As the old saying goes, “the more things change, the more they stay the same”.
A new report by the Independent detailed the latest disturbing allegations against Carnival Cruise Lines that is accused of “unexpectedly” releasing a cloud of soot and oily waste into the water from the Carnival Magic cruise ship while docked at Grand Turk on November 1. Sadly, its just the latest example of its inability or unwillingness to comply with environmental regulations despite its claims that it has an “ongoing commitment to reducing our impact on the oceans we sail.”
Carnival’s Tricky Track Record
Carnival Cruise Line has faced scrutiny in the past for environmental issues. In fact, just before the start of the pandemic in 2020, Carnival was in the crosshairs of US District Court judge Hon. Patricia Seitz for repeat offenses including illegal dumping and discharge of onboard waste and pollutants.
According to the Miami Herald, Carnival Corporation, the holding corporation that owns Carnival Cruise Lines and its many subsidiary lines like Princess Cruises, was fined $40 million by Judge Seitz in the Southern District of Florida in Miami in 2016.
Carnival plead guilty and the corporation was placed on probation in April of 2017. for criminal violations of environmental regulations — dumping oily waste into the ocean for a period of eight years from its Princess Cruises ships — and paying a $40 million fine.
In June 2019, the company pleaded guilty again to violating probation, paid a $20 million fine and agreed to more strict oversight during its remaining years on probation. Throughout its probation, the company has continued to violate environmental laws.
Such penalties underscore the importance of strict environmental compliance for the cruise industry. Notably, Carnival’s track record for compliance with environmental regulations is arguably the worst of the major cruise line brands that are publicly traded on the US Stock market.
The “power was out for one minute, it came back on, [and] everything [appeared] normal. But now there is a giant oil slick on the back of the ship. The officers were on the pier, visibly upset.”
The Incident
While docked at Grand Turk on November 1, an “unexpected” environmental incident occurred involving the Carnival Magic cruise ship. A noticeable discharge of soot resembling an oil slick was discharged by the vessel while docked in the port of Grand Turk. The discharge was observed entering surrounding waters, which has led to concerns and suspicions about its cause.
The incident resulted in a delay in the ship’s departure as both crew members and local authorities initiated inspections. A passenger onboard, documented the spread of the soot, tracing its origins to a power cut and a malfunction within the ship’s cooling system.
@CruiseIndustry carnival magic has a brief power failure in grand turk followed by a discharge of an oil based substance from an advanced cooling system. Cruise is delayed for cleanup pic.twitter.com/r92mtNhL1K
— chuck richards (@chuck_richards) November 1, 2023
The Aftermath
The spill caused a delay in the ship’s departure from the port of Grand Turk. Passengers and local authorities quickly inspected the spill before clearing the vessel for departure.
One of the passengers onboard was able to take pictures of the unauthorized discharge tainting the waters around the ship. The pictures reveal what appears to be a vast, dark spread on the water’s surface not unlike an oil slick.
Although the ship left over two hours late, its next stops, like Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic, should stay on schedule.
The Environmental Harm Caused by Cruise Ships
The cruise industry has promised to be more green. Recent data has illuminated the scary truth about the cruise industry’s significant environmental impact.
In fact, a recent study showed that cruise ships released four times more sulphur emissions in Europe than all of Europe’s cars combined last year. The cruise industry as a whole, including major players like Carnival, has been identified as a substantial contributor to sulphur emissions in not only Europe, but across the globe. Mistakes happen. But, events like this highlight the need for better eco-friendly measures, especially in the cruise industry.
Compliance with international law and maritime law is critically important to ensuring that cruises are operated safely. This includes the onboard passengers and crew, in addition to the environments and the seas they sail through, too.
Why it matters
Whether environmental regulations, or safety protocols, The Miami-based cruise ship accident and maritime injury law firm of Delgado Trial Attorneys possess a skill set that few other maritime attorneys can claim. We have years of experience fighting against the major cruise lines like Carnival Cruise Lines, amongst others.
Raul’s extensive experience representing the cruise lines and developing their defense strategies years before they started representing the passengers and crew members that suffered injuries because of the cruise lines’ negligence. Combined with Raul Delgado, Sr.’s 45 years of personal injury experience fighting on behalf of injured accident victims, Delgado Trial Attorneys offers a combination of experience in all types of cruise ship personal injuries unlike any of their competitors.
Our experience allows us to effectively strategize and advocate for every client we represent. We have handled all types of cruise ship passenger accidents over the years with a focus on slip, trip and falls, medical malpractice, FlowRider accidents, sexual assaults, Death on the High Seas, and more.
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