Cruise ship captain faces pollution charges in France

An American cruise ship captain has been charged in France with deliberately violating European air pollution limits after it was discovered he had loaded bunker fuel with high sulphur content.

Prosecutors said that Evans Hoyt, captain of the P&O Cruises vessel Azura (pictured), was fully aware that his ship had loaded bunker fuel containing 1.75 per cent sulphur in Barcelona before sailing for Marseille in March 2018.

Inspectors conducted a spot check of Azura’s tanks as it entered Marseille on March 28 and found that the fuel was above the 1.5 per cent EU limit.

Hoyt could face up to a year in prison and fines of up to €200,000 (US$230,000) if found guilty.

P&O Cruises’ parent company Carnival has also been charged.