Carnival Fantasy Flunks Environmental Group's Report Card

The Charleston-based Carnival Fantasy earns across-the-board F's in a recent environmental group's analysis of the cruise industry's environmental footprint.

The 23-year-old ship lacks the latest in waste water treatment and fails to run on electricity while docked in ports, according to Friends of the Earth’s Cruise Ship Report Card.

The ship currently dumps partially treated waste water into the open sea, and while docked it burns a low-grade diesel rather than plugging up to electricity. Both moves could reduce the ship's environmental footprint, Friends of the Earth reports.

As a cruise line, the 24 vessels in Carnival's fleet earn a D+ for its environmental footprint. That's an improvement from 2010 when the cruise line earned an F.

Though the environmental group issues low marks to the Fantasy, the ship complies with U.S. and international environmental standards. Ships are allowed to discharge partially treated waste water so long as the vessel is four miles from the shore, and once the ship is 12 miles out, it can discharge untreated sewage directly into the water.

The Fantasy's smutty exhaust has been a regular point of contention with Charleston groups that want limits on the Holy City's growing cruise tourism industry.

The Port of Charleston, however, says investing in an upgraded system that allows for electrical hook up is impractical since the port has plans to construct a new terminal to replace its current facility.