Judge threatens to stop Carnival cruise ships from docking In US Company has been on probation for two years Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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WESH 2’S AMANDA OBER EXPLAINS, AND SHOWS US THE IMPACT THE CHANGE COULD HAVE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA. AMANDA: THE CARNIVAL CRUISE SHIP LIBERTY WAS DOCKED IN PORT CANAVERAL TODAY. IT’S ONE OF THREE YEAR-ROUND SHIPS CARNIVAL DOCKS IN PORT CANAVERAL, CARRYING UPWARDS OF 650,000 PASSENGERS A YEAR. >> IT’S A HUGE PART OF THE PORT. THAT’S WHAT MAKES THE PORT THE PORT. AMANDA: CARNIVAL CRUISES ARE A BIG PLAYER IN THE SPACE COAST’S ECONOMY, AND BUSINESSES IN THE PORT WERE CONCERNED TO LEARN CARNIVAL IS BEING THREATENED WITH A POSSIBLE BAN FROM DOCKING AT U.S. PORTS. >> THE CUSTOMERS COME THE RESTAURANT TO LOOK AT THE CRUISE SHIPS. WE DO GET CRUISE PASSENGERS THAT UNBOARD FROM THE SHIP AND EAT WITH US. IT WOULD AFFECT US TREMENDOUSLY, TO BE QUITE HONEST WITH YOU.’. -- WITH YOU. AMANDA: ON WEDNESDAY, A FEDERAL JUDGE THREATENED TO TEMPORARILY BLOCK CARNIVAL CORPORATION FROM DOCKING CRUISE SHIPS AT PORTS IN THE U.S. AS PUNISHMENT FOR A POSSIBLE PROBATION VIOLATION. ACCORDING TO COURT FILINGS, CARNIVAL HAS BEEN ON PROBATION FOR TWO YEARS AS PART OF A $40 MILLION SETTLEMENT FOR ILLEGALLY DUMPING OIL INTO THE OCEAN FROM ITS PRINCESS CRUISES SHIPS AND ALLEGEDLY LYING ABOUT THE SCHEME. PROSECUTORS CLAIM CARNIVAL CONTINUES TO FALSIFY DOCUMENTS AND ILLEGALLY DUMP PLAST AND WASTE. THE JUDGE SAYS SHE WILL HOLD OFF ON MAKING A DECISION UNTIL A JUNE HEARING, DURING WHICH SHE WANTS TO HEAR FROM THE COMPANY’S LEADERS. MEANTIME, CARNIVAL CORPORTATION PROVIDED WESH TWO NEWS A STATEMENT SAYING, "OUR ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY HAS HAS BEEN A TOP PRIORITY FOR THE COMPANY. OUR ASPIRATION IS TO LEAVE THE PLACES WE TOUCH EVEN BETTER THAN WHEN WE FIRST ARRIVED. IT APPEARS THERE WERE SOME MISCHARACTERIZATIONS MADE BY OTHERS TO THE COURT. WE INTEND TO FULLY ADDRESS THE ISSUES RAISED." THE CARNIVAL LIBERTY JUST PULLED OUT OF PORT AT PORT CANAVERAL. CARNIVAL STRESSES THAT NO ACTION WAS TAKEN AT YESTERDAY’S HEARING AND

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