NASSAU, Bahamas -- Cruise ships are suspected of polluting
Florida's waters at least 60 times and Alaska's waters 26 times
over a nine-year period, according to an Associated Press
computer-assisted analysis of marine pollution records.
Cruise ships were suspected of 172 pollution incidents in U.S.
waters from 1991 to Dec. 31, 2000.
The AP compiled the study, the results of which were published
this week, by crossing a list of 238 cruise-ship identification
numbers with a Coast Guard database that included both proven and
alleged incidents from 1991 to Dec. 31, 2000.
The study said cruise ships were responsible for a small
fraction of the 194,075 cases recorded for marine polluters. Oil
tankers, tugboats, fishing vessels and passenger craft were all
responsible for more pollution than cruise ships, according to the
study.
Among ships cited for pollution incidents were Carnival Cruise
Line's Ecstasy in 1992; Premier Cruise Line's Oceanic, which was
cited five times in 1993, and Premier's Big Red Boat II in
1997.
Most cruise ship pollution cases are minor and accidental, said
Michael Crye, president of the International Council of Cruise
Lines (ICCL).