A U.S. Coast Guard criminal inquiry into suspected oil-waste disposal aboard the cruise ship MSC Poesia could expose its crew and owner to criminal liability, CBS News reported.
An official familiar with the inquiry told CBS the alleged “magic pipe” uses the ship’s gray-water stream as a route for discharging oil waste into the sea. Gray water can include wastewater from sinks and showers, CBS said, and ships may release it when they are far enough from shore. The outlet reported that federal law prohibits using that route to dispose of oil waste.
The official said investigators may assess potential criminal liability for people connected to the alleged conduct, including crew members and the vessel’s owner, CBS reported.
Earlier this month, Coast Guard inspectors found onboard system deficiencies on MSC Poesia, prompting a detention at the Port of Miami, CBS reported. MSC Cruises described the issue at the time as a “regulatory matter,” the outlet reported, and said no further details were provided then. The ship was cleared to leave on Thursday, CBS said.
CBS also cited a 2016 case involving Princess Cruises. The company pleaded guilty to seven felony charges and was ordered to pay a $40 million fine after oily waste was discharged at sea, CBS reported.
