Carnival Cruises won't reimburse $780,000 in rescue costs after Triumph disaster as ANOTHER ship turns back with toilet trouble
Carnival Cruises says it will not
reimburse the U.S. government some $780,000 in costs forked out to
rescue of the crippled Triumph cruise ship as yet another vessel turns
back because of clogged toilets.
The company says all maritime interests must assist those in trouble at sea without question, a duty that exempts it from paying back the government.
U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller described the response as 'shameful' and said he was considering 'all options to hold the industry to higher passenger safety standards.'
Carnival released letters on
Friday replying to an inquiry by Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat
who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, about the Triumph stranding
and the cruise line's overall safety record.
Among Rockefeller's questions was whether Carnival would repay the government for Coast Guard costs in the Triumph case as well as $3.4 million to the Coast Guard and Navy from the 2010 stranding of the Carnival Splendor in the Pacific Ocean.
'These costs must ultimately be borne by federal taxpayers,' Rockefeller said in his March letter, adding that Carnival appears to pay little or no federal income taxes.
In response, Carnival said its policy
is to 'honor maritime tradition that holds that the duty to render
assistance at sea to those in need is a universal obligation of the
entire maritime community.'
The cruise line noted that its ships frequently participate in rescues at the Coast Guard's request, including 11 times in the past year in Florida and Caribbean waters. It did not make direct reference to repaying any money.
The news comes as Carnival cruise The Crown Princess was forced to return to Galveston, Texas, on Saturday after toilets broke down during the seven-day Caribbean cruise to Honduras, Belize and Cozumel.
A cruise line spokesman told Chron.com that a blockage within the vacuum toilet system caused toilets in 410 staterooms in the aft part of the ship to temporarily stop flushing.
Passengers reported foul odors, long lines for public bathrooms and flooded rooms for up to three days. Affected passengers received an apology and $50 for the inconvenience.
With respect to options available to hold the industry to higher passenger safety standards, Rockefeller may consider a congressional hearing and legislation, perhaps even a closer look at taxation.
Rockefeller's letter asked Carnival whether the money it pays in taxes covers the costs of various federal benefits it receives, a question the cruise line again did not directly answer.
It did mention port taxes and fees and other payments and said it paid $16.5 billion in wages to U.S. workers in 2011.
'Every state where our ships call or home port benefits from the dollars spent by cruise lines to buy products and retain services from local businesses,' Carnival added.
The exchange marked the latest chapter
in the saga of the Triumph, which was disabled by an engine fire during a
cruise in February in the Gulf of Mexico.
Thousands of passengers and crew had to endure five days at sea with no power and under squalid conditions while the 900-foot vessel was towed to Mobile, Ala., where it continues to undergo repairs.
Rockefeller had asked Carnival for details about 90 incidents aboard its ships that were filed with the Coast Guard in the past five years. Carnival responded that 83 were not considered serious under federal regulations.
Three were the Triumph and
Splendor mishaps and the capsizing of the Costa Concordia off Italy's
coast, which killed 32 people in January 2012. The others were more
minor ship collisions, an illness and one passenger who jumped off a
ship.
The cruise line said it takes each incident 'very seriously' and undergoes reviews and corrective measures when needed, such as a review of safety and emergency response practices across all of Carnival's brands following the Concordia accident.
In a separate letter, Carnival Chairman and CEO Micky Arison said the company takes the issues raised by Rockefeller very seriously.
'We remain committed to the safety and comfort of our guests and we are proud of our ability to provide millions of people with safe, fun and memorable vacation experiences,' Arison wrote.
The company says all maritime interests must assist those in trouble at sea without question, a duty that exempts it from paying back the government.
U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller described the response as 'shameful' and said he was considering 'all options to hold the industry to higher passenger safety standards.'
Not again: The Crown Princess cruise ship, pictured, was forced to turn back on Saturday because of toilet trouble
Among Rockefeller's questions was whether Carnival would repay the government for Coast Guard costs in the Triumph case as well as $3.4 million to the Coast Guard and Navy from the 2010 stranding of the Carnival Splendor in the Pacific Ocean.
'These costs must ultimately be borne by federal taxpayers,' Rockefeller said in his March letter, adding that Carnival appears to pay little or no federal income taxes.
Shameful: Sen. Jay Rockefeller, pictured, described Carnival's response as 'shameful'
The cruise line noted that its ships frequently participate in rescues at the Coast Guard's request, including 11 times in the past year in Florida and Caribbean waters. It did not make direct reference to repaying any money.
The news comes as Carnival cruise The Crown Princess was forced to return to Galveston, Texas, on Saturday after toilets broke down during the seven-day Caribbean cruise to Honduras, Belize and Cozumel.
A cruise line spokesman told Chron.com that a blockage within the vacuum toilet system caused toilets in 410 staterooms in the aft part of the ship to temporarily stop flushing.
Passengers reported foul odors, long lines for public bathrooms and flooded rooms for up to three days. Affected passengers received an apology and $50 for the inconvenience.
With respect to options available to hold the industry to higher passenger safety standards, Rockefeller may consider a congressional hearing and legislation, perhaps even a closer look at taxation.
Rockefeller's letter asked Carnival whether the money it pays in taxes covers the costs of various federal benefits it receives, a question the cruise line again did not directly answer.
It did mention port taxes and fees and other payments and said it paid $16.5 billion in wages to U.S. workers in 2011.
'Every state where our ships call or home port benefits from the dollars spent by cruise lines to buy products and retain services from local businesses,' Carnival added.
Expensive rescue: Carnival Cruises says it will
not reimburse the U.S. government some $780,000 forked out to rescue of
the crippled Triumph cruise ship, pictured on February 14, 2013
Triumph: Passengers wait to leave the Carnival Triumph cruise ship on February 13, 2013, after engine failure
Thousands of passengers and crew had to endure five days at sea with no power and under squalid conditions while the 900-foot vessel was towed to Mobile, Ala., where it continues to undergo repairs.
Rockefeller had asked Carnival for details about 90 incidents aboard its ships that were filed with the Coast Guard in the past five years. Carnival responded that 83 were not considered serious under federal regulations.
Grim conditions: An engine fire crippled sister
ship Carnival Triumph in February, leaving 4,200 passengers stranded in
the Gulf of Mexico for five days without working toilets, power or air
conditioning
The cruise line said it takes each incident 'very seriously' and undergoes reviews and corrective measures when needed, such as a review of safety and emergency response practices across all of Carnival's brands following the Concordia accident.
In a separate letter, Carnival Chairman and CEO Micky Arison said the company takes the issues raised by Rockefeller very seriously.
'We remain committed to the safety and comfort of our guests and we are proud of our ability to provide millions of people with safe, fun and memorable vacation experiences,' Arison wrote.