Environmental Groups Sue Carnival Cruise Lines over Dockings at Charleston Port

Environmentalist and neighborhood groups in South Carolina, Charleston are filing a civil lawsuit against the giant cruise operator, Carnival, over cruise ships calling to port Charleston.

The suit, being brought by Coastal Conservation League and the city’s Ansonborough and Charlestowne neighborhoods, says the Carnival ship “Fantasy” is not complying with city regulations on hotel locations and is docking in an area where no hotels are allowed, not to mention that the Fantasy is twice as large as the largest hotel in Charleston.  The suit claims that the large cruise ship’s operations are running in the heart of the city’s historic district sending local zoning ordinances afoul, as well as snarling traffic and violating state environmental permitting laws by discharging wastes into South Carolina’s waters without permits. The environmentalists are asking the courts to find Carnival’s use of the Union Pier Terminal at the Port of Charleston illegal.

Blan Holman, an attorney for Southern Environmental Law Center, stated that he doesn’t believe there’s ever been a lawsuit of this nature filed against this industry, and if there is any place in the United States where this issue should be resolved, it is in Charleston.  Health and environmental issue risks are at hand with the emitting smoke and supposed waste dumping. 

Last fall, the Port Authority placed a cap on the amount of cruise ship visits allowed per year, but the agreement is not legally bound or enforceable.  State’s Port Authority also plans to build a brand new $25 million cruise terminal.

The lawsuit is only the most recent development in a 1-1.5 year long drama between the city and the state ports.  Mayor Joe Riley says the city will be an active force and will be intervening in the lawsuit to stop the “foolishness” in their city.