In 2002 the cruise operator pleaded guilty to discharging oily waste into the sea from their ships' bilges on numerous occasions from 1996 through to 2001. The company was also found to have falsified the Oil Record Books in an attempt to hide its practices and was ordered to pay $18 million in fines.
In its annual report of 2008, Carnival revealed that its ships released 712 kg of CO2 per kilometer on average. What this converts to is 401 g of CO2 per passenger when the boats are full. This is a carbon footprint that is 36 times greater than someone traveling by train and three times greater than someone traveling on a Boeing 747 or a passenger ferry.
In an attempt to reduce its impact on the environment, Carnival has implemented a number of measures on board its cruise liners. According to Carnival, it does not dispose of any waste at sea, choosing instead to recycle, incinerate or offload all waste materials from its ships on land. The firm has also installed recycling containers throughout its ships to allow guests to dispose of food, glass, aluminum and plastics. The line also claims to be researching different options for the treatment of waste water from sinks, showers and kitchens to enable it to be used for flushing toilets, laundry and deck washing. Energy and water conservation audits are now carried out on all Carnival ships.
Education programs have also been put in place aboard all Carnival ships. All employees have to attend a course that familiarizes them with the processes of ship waste management. Advanced training is also given to employees in key positions where the environment may be affected.
In 2009 Carnival Cruise Lines was awarded the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce's "Innovation in Environmental Practices" award for attempting to decrease its impact on the environment. As of 2010 it was still unclear by what percentage the firm had reduced its carbon footprint.
