Carnival Sues BP and other Rig Operators for Oil Spill Damages

Last week on the one-year anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon spill, Carnival Corp. filed suit against BP PLC and several other companies involved in the operation of the rig.

Carnival Corp., operator of Carnival Cruise Lines and nine other worldwide lines is suing BP and the other operators of the rig for losses and damages suffered during the Gulf oil spill. The cruise operator is seeking unspecified economic and compensatory damages with interest, punitive damages and the cost of litigation.

The complaint sites negligence by all operators of the Deepwater Horizon Rig, including Cameron, BP, Transocean, and Haliburton. In addition the later three are being sued for concealing facts regarding the spill, including timely announcements and warnings.

In establishing their eligibility for a claim the company said they serve ports Florida, Alabama, Texas and Louisiana, using the Gulf of Mexico to transport passengers and crew.

Ships operating out of Mobile and New Orleans were reportedly most affected by the spill. Economic losses included decreased bookings, increased fuel costs, and vessel cleaning expenses.

In its court documents Carnival confirmed that they had previously filed claims for damages and losses to the Oil Spill Claims Commission. 

The suit was filed last week in U.S. District Court in New Orleans along with hundreds of other suits regarding the spill. BP also filed a suit on the April 20th anniversary against Transocean, Haliburton and Cameron, seeking the full economic cost of the spill, an estimated $43 billion. 

PHOTO: New Orleans based, Carnival Triumph