The Italian Coast Guard fined cruise ship MS Prinsendam for air pollution in Naples after burning fuel with high sulfur content. The inspectors monitored the air in the cruise terminal and found higher content of sulfur, estimating that the air pollution comes from the cruise ship. They made a further inspections and investigation, confirming the concerns that the cruise ship emitted higher sulfur gasses than allowed. The inspectors from the Italian Coast Guard imposed a record fine of 30,000 EUR to the Master of cruise ship Prinsendam. The vessel extended the stay in Naples and later resumed cruise to Barcelona, Spain.

The compliance with emission regulations is always among the most important priorities of the Neapolitan Coast Guard, which last year issued, together with the Port Authority, a special ordinance with stricter rules than those laid down by national legislation, emphasizing the particular sensitivity to environmental protection.

The vessel MS Prinsendam (IMO: 8700280) is a cruise ship for Holland America Line, built in 1988 by Wartsila Marine Perno Shipyard in Turku, Finland. The ship has overall length of 205.50 m, moulded beam of 28.00 m and maximum draft of 7.20 m. The deadweight of the vessel is 6,150 DWT and the gross tonnage is 38,848 GRT. The cruise ship MS Prinsendam has 9 decks and capacity for 740 passengers and 460 crew.