Carnival Corporation is in Miami federal court for a hearing on what to do about allegations it had continued polluting the oceans from some of its ships despite agreeing years ago to stop.
The largest cruise line in the world is accused by federal prosecutors of violating terms of probation from 2016 conviction for discharging oily waste from Princess Cruise Lines ships and covering it up. Carnival paid a US$40 million fine and was put on 5 years' probation.
The hearing Monday concerns what to do about alleged new probation violations. Senior U.S.District Judge Patricia Seitz previously threatened to bar Carnival Corp. from docking at U.S. ports but is now reviewing a proposed settlement.
Miami-based Carnival Corp currently operates 9 brands (subsidiaries) and 105 cruise vessels worldwide. They offer almost a dozen voyages to Alaska during the summer, departing from British Columbia, San Francisco, Seattle.