A British engineer who reported illegal polluting by Princess Cruises has been awarded $1 million as part of an historic $40 million fine imposed on the cruise line.
Princess Cruises, owned by Carnival, was officially fined by US District Judge Patricia A. Seitz in Miami last week after pleading guilty to illegally polluting the sea and trying to cover it up.
The illegal dumping came to light back in August 2013 when a newly-recruited engineer, working on Caribbean Princess, reported a so-called ‘magic pipe’ being used to illegally get rid of oily waste off the coast of Britain.
He collected evidence, including photographs of the magic pipe, which led to an inspection of the cruise ship in England and again when it reached New York in September 2013.
The US Department of Justice case found illegal practices took place on five Princess ships – Caribbean Princess, Star Princess, Grand Princess, Coral Princess and Golden Princess.
The fine – the largest of its kind – was intended to send a strong message to the entire cruise industry.
A quarter of the $40m penalty is earmarked for community service projects to help protect the maritime environment and $1m will go for projects to benefit the marine environment in British waters.
Alongside the fine, the US federal court also ordered that 78 ships belonging to other Carnival brands – including Holland America Line, Cunard Line, Seabourn Cruise Line and Costa Cruises – are subject to a five-year environmental compliance programme.
