Cruise line fined in whale case

ANCHORAGE — Princess Cruise Lines was sentenced Monday for failing to operate one of its ships in a slow, safe manner near Glacier Bay National Park where a humpback whale was found dead of massive skull fractures.

The body of the 45-foot, pregnant humpback whale was found floating in Icy Strait near the mouth of Glacier Bay in Southeast Alaska in July 2001. Humpback whales are an endangered species.

While not agreeing Monday that one of its ships hit the whale, Princess Cruise Lines paid a maximum $200,000 fine, plus $550,000 in restitution to the National Park Foundation.

The company pleaded guilty to knowingly failing to operate the cruise ship at a slow, safe speed while near two whales July 12, 2001.