Carnival sues Alabama shipyard where Triumph was towed

By Tom Stieghorst

Carnival Corp. has filed a lawsuit seeking damages from the shipyard in Mobile, Ala., where the Carnival Triumph was towed in February after its engine fire.

The suit says deteriorated and inadequate mooring bollards failed during a rainstorm on April 3, allowing Triumph to break free of the pier and damage other vessels and structures. Triumph itself also sustained "significant" damage, the suit says.

The suit seeks at least $12.6 million in damages from BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards Alabama Property Holdings LLC. Attorneys for BAE Systems have not yet filed a response.

Also named as a defendant in the suit is Bernadette Johnson, wife of John "Buster" Johnson, a worker who drowned when the Triumph broke free. She had sued Carnival on May 29, the suit says.

In the suit, Carnival seeks a declaration that it is not liable for injuries or damages from the incident.

Carnival said it has claims or expects claims from the Signal Ship Repair shipyard on the Mobile River and from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, whose dredging ship was hit by Carnival Triumph.