ROYAL Caribbean Cruises has agreed to pay an $18m fine for dumping oil-contaminated waste and other hazardous chemicals near Miami, San Juan, New York City, Los Angeles, Anchorage and St Thomas.
The USDepartment of Justice said it was the largest fine ever paid by a cruiseline for polluting the country’s waters. The fine comes about 13 months after the cruiseline agreed to pay $9m for similar violations in Miami and Puerto Rico.
Royal Caribbean blamed the offences on a group of employees who knowingly violated US environmental laws and company policy.
“We have learned important lessons from this investigation,” said president Jack Williams. “Our goal is to build the most environmentally-responsible fleet with the most environmentally-sensitive workforce in the industry.”