The Department of Justice has fined Princess Cruise Lines a whopping $40 million for deliberately polluting oceans and then trying to cover it up. The fine is the largest criminal penalty ever given for such actions.
In a statement, the Justice Department says that Princess—a subsidiary of Carnival Corp.—illegally dumped contaminated waste and oil from its Caribbean Princess ship for a period lasting eight years. The practice was eventually brought to the attention of the government by a former Princess engineer in 2013.
The Justice Department's investigation found illegal dumping practices on four other Princess ships as well—most of them likely undertaken to cut costs.
"The pollution in this case was the result of more than just bad actors on one ship," said Assistant Attorney General John C. Cruden. "It reflects very poorly on Princess's culture and management."
