Environment officials are confident the fear of tough penalties will prevent pollution incidents in Bermuda waters.

Government officers have been monitoring events out of the United States following a record $18 million fine handed down to Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. -- whose vessel Nordic Empress is a weekly Bermuda caller -- for dumping oil and hazardous chemicals at sea.

And although they admit there is little they can do if ships pollute at sea, they are assured that in local waters shipping companies are aware of the punishments that could result.

Earlier this year, a $30,000 fine was handed out to the captain of a container vessel, the Pascale Delmas , which spilt oil off St. George's -- resulting in a massive marine protection operation.

And a Magistrate's Court case is still pending against the Cunard Line's Royal Viking Sun , which is accused of marine pollution offences in Bermuda last year.

Government Environment Engineer Dr. Tom Sleeter recently told The Royal Gazette Bermuda had a good relationship with the cruise ships that visited and all are aware of the severe penalties awaiting those who polluted local waters.

He said there was surveillance of vessels in port and inspections, but added that once out of sight there was little that could be done to stop any vessel that polluted.

"We are more concerned about their behaviour in inshore waters,'' he said.

"Over the years, the word has got out that Bermuda is tough on discharging waste.'' That reputation had been earned back in the 1970s, when Bermuda prosecuted a cruise ship for indiscriminate discharge -- which was followed by 22 other cases in the following decade.

In addition to inspections, Marine Police carry oil testing kits that can help identify which vessel a spillage may have come from. Oil fingerprinting is also a vital part of marine prosecutions.

Island powerless to stop polluters at sea Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson added: "We have set up systems to deal with this problem, and this system is working. Until we have a problem where we find it is not working, I don't think there is any cause for concern.'' Dr. Sleeter admitted there was little Bermuda could do to stop sea pollution, if it occurred out of Island range.

Without aerial search capabilities or night vision equipment, Bermuda cannot look beyond its waters.

They were speaking after Royal Caribbean agreed to pay a record $18 million criminal fine and plead guilty to 21 felony counts for dumping oil and hazardous chemicals in US water and lying about it to the Coast Guard.

The company said it is strictly monitoring its ships' environmental procedures and rigging them with cleaner equipment.

A five-year investigation showed Royal Caribbean vessels used "secret bypass pipes'' to dump waste oil and hazardous materials overboard, often at night.

Ship personnel also falsified log books that employees called by a Norwegian term meaning "fairy tale book,'' she said.

US Justice Department officials said Royal Caribbean engaged in the dumping to save the cost of properly disposing of its waste -- all the while promoting itself as environmentally friendly.

"Royal Caribbean polluted the very environment on which its business relies,'' US Attorney General Janet Reno said at a news conference in Washington. "They dumped everywhere; at sea, in port, at sensitive environmental areas... they didn't care.'' The sanction, the highest of its kind, brings to $27 million the amount of government fines paid by Royal Caribbean since last year.

Company president Jack Williams said the leisure line is "profoundly sorry that a group of our employees knowingly violated environmental laws and our own company policy.'' Since the government probe began, Royal Caribbean has manned each of its 16 vessels with an environmental officer to monitor treatment of bilge water and other procedures, Williams said.

A management team has been created to monitor shipboard environmental procedures, new engines and water treatment equipment are being installed and more frequent ship audits will be held, Williams said.

In addition, Williams said, the company has spent up to $90,000 per ship to install new oily water treatment systems.

The Royal Caribbean probe began in October 1994 when Coast Guard officials noticed an oil slick behind the ship Sovereign of the Seas as it approached San Juan, Puerto Rico.