Criminal Probe Dropped in Princess Louise Sinking

After a four-month criminal investigation, the Environmental Protection Agency has concluded it cannot prove that a salvage company deliberately scuttled the former cruise ship Princess Louise miles short of its intended resting place off Catalina Island.

But EPA spokeswoman Lois Grunwald said the agency is still considering possible civil fines against Trinav Shipping Ltd. for allowing the 2,300-ton vessel to sink too close to an ocean dump site in San Pedro Channel. The site is used for disposal of dredge material from local harbors and is significant to the EPA, Grunwald said, because of ocean floor tests that may now be hampered by the ship. The Princess Louise, for years a popular floating restaurant, sank in 900 feet of water on June 30 en route to Catalina.

Willem Boelman, president of Trinav, has maintained that he had no choice but to scuttle the ship short of its destination because it was taking on water and posed a risk to his salvage crew.