The Bahamian government plans to probe Carnival Corp's discharge of almost a half million gallons of treated sewage into its waters, following a report released by a US judge this month.
An independent court-appointed monitor overseeing Carnival's environmental compliance noted 13 incidents in the report in which sewage was dumped illegally during its first year of probation, the Miami Herald has reported.
The incidents took place on Carnival Cruise Line ships, mostly over two weeks in June 2017.
Carnival said the dumps were reported to Bahamian authorities and caused by human error.
"We take these incidents very seriously and we are vigorously addressing them," spokesman Roger Frizzell said.
Frizzell said the dumping had no negative impact to marine life or people.
International law allows treated sewage to be dumped three miles off land but Bahamas has a 12-mile buffer.
Frizzell said Carnival has implemented more training, oversight and tools to help ship personnel properly diagnose and navigate archipelago areas.
A federal judge may temporarily block Carnival Corp from docking at US ports as punishment for a possible probation violation related to environmental wrongdoing.
US District Judge Patricia Seitz says she will rule whether or not to implement the temporary ban after a June hearing to decide if other offences constitute probation violation.
She wants that hearing attended by chairman Micky Arison and chief executive Arnold Donald.
Already in trouble
The cruise major has served two years of the five-year probation as part of a $40m settlement for illegally dumping oil into the ocean from its Princess Cruises ships for eight years and lying about it to US authorities.
While on probation, Carnival and its subsidiary cruise lines tried to avoid unfavourable findings by preparing ships in advance of court-ordered audits and falsifying records.
The New York-listed company also dumped plastic garbage into the ocean and illegally discharged gray water into Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska.
The company also has tried to lobby the US Coast Guard through a back channel to change the terms of the settlement.
Carnival has acknowledged these incidents.
