S26 E6: The Magic Pipe | "The Outlaw Ocean"

When a ship inadvertently spills oil, it’s big news. But every
three years, ships intentionally dump more oil than the Exxon
Valdez, and BP spills combined. This episode highlights a vexing
and woefully under-discussed problem. It is made possible by
corrupt ship captains who use a so-called “Magic Pipe” that dumps
oil discreetly under the water line rather than disposing of it
on land as legally required. To learn about this problem, the
episode tells the story of Carnival’s Caribbean Princess cruise
ship, which used such a pipe and was caught, convicted and hit
with the biggest fine in history. This case is set in a broader
context of other forms of at-sea dumping, such as plastic
pollution, and highlights how the sea has long — and perilously —
been viewed as a bottomless trash can. Guest Interviews: Annie
Leonard, CEO of Greenpeace, creator of “The Story of Plastic”
Richard Udell, DOJ Prosecutor on the Caribbean Princess Case.





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