Carnival Elation spills 'gray water' at Florida port due to valve problem

The Carnival Elation spilled “gray water” from its plumbing and shower systems while docked at Port Canaveral in Florida on Thursday, because of a valve problem, reports Florida Today, which is a part of the USA TODAY Network.

In a statement issued Thursday, Carnival Cruise Line spokesman Vance Gulliksen, said: “While Carnival Elation was discharging water from its ballast systems, which helps stabilize the ship for navigational purposes, a gray water valve failed and unintentionally discharged gray water from non-sewage wastewater systems. No sewage was discharged.”

Gulliksen’s statement said the problem “was quickly addressed and resolved by shipboard personnel, and all appropriate authorities were notified.”

According to Steve Linden, Port Canaveral’s director of communications and public affairs, the spill was reported just before 9 a.m. Carnival reported the issue to the Coast Guard Response Center, which is protocol.

“It’s gray water, and no human waste or anything biological” was involved, Linden said. “The majority of the discharge is just water, and not a threat to the environment or wildlife.”

Gulliksen said the water that discharged was from showers, sinks and laundry systems.

Linden said the Coast Guard, Canaveral Fire Rescue and the port’s environmental team responded to the incident.

The Elation left the port’s Cruise Terminal 5 Thursday afternoon for its scheduled four-day cruise to the Bahamas.

The Elation has a passenger capacity of 2,697 at full capacity and 2,130 at normal occupancy, based on two passengers per cabin. It has a crew of 920.

The Elation is one of three Carnival ships based at Port Canaveral, along with the Breeze and the Liberty.

Dave Berman is government editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Berman at 321-242-3649 or [email protected]. Twitter: @bydaveberman.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Port Canaveral: Carnival Elation spills gray water; valve problem