Norwegian dumps
waste off SeattleThe sewage spill is the first
case of its kind in Washington's
inland marine waters
SEATTLE >> A cruise ship released more than 40 tons of raw sewage into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the first case of its kind in Washington state's inland marine waters, officials say.
The release occurred early Saturday morning as the Norwegian Sun was northwest of Port Townsend en route to Seattle, state Ecology Department officials said Tuesday. It was reported by the captain and is being investigated by the state agency and the Coast Guard.
"We haven't had an incident like this to deal with since the cruise ships started operating in Puget Sound," said Ann Kenny, an Ecology regional planner. "We're certainly taking it seriously."
An engineer aboard the Norwegian Sun opened valves to release what he thought was "gray water" from sinks and showers, apparently unaware that the tank being emptied had been upgraded for "black water," or raw sewage from toilets, Kenny said.
The ship is nearly as long as three football fields and carries as many as 3,200 passengers and crew members.
Norwegian Cruise Line issued a statement saying the company is "very disappointed" but doesn't believe the release was illegal although it violated company policy, which bars waste water releases within 12 miles of shore and requires treatment of sewage before discharge.
Cruise ships do not routinely pump sewage into city sewers in Seattle, nor do they have permits to dump into state waters. Federal law allows dumping at least three miles out to sea.
