The Southern Environmental Law Center in Charleston filed the suit in South Carolina state court, alleging that "large cruise ship operations in the heart of the city's historic district run afoul of local zoning ordinances, snarl traffic by closing downtown streets, and violate state environmental permitting laws."

Carnival based the 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy in Charleston beginning in May 2010, the city's first year-round cruise ship.

"People simply want to see Carnival play by the rules just like everyone else so that an uncontrolled cruise industry doesn't swamp Charleston's health and heritage," said Blan Holman, an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, in a statement. "Charleston relies on a careful balance between tourism and preservation that cruise ship interests shouldn't overwhelm."

Local groups, including the Charleston area's Coastal Conservation League and the Historic Ansonborough Neighborhood Association, are parties to the suit.

"Right now we have too much gridlock and pollution because the cruise industry based a giant ship right next to our small historic residential neighborhoods," said Association member Carrie Agnew in a statement.

The lawsuit also contends that Carnival is discharging from the Fantasy into South Carolina waters without permits required by state pollution control laws.

Bill Stern, the chairman of the South Carolina State Port Authority, called the lawsuit "irresponsible."

"The special interests behind this lawsuit are clearly attempting to harass port customers," Stern said in a statement. "Their goal is to cripple our port system to satisfy their anti-growth agenda. First it's cruise ships, then cargo ships. Next it will be trucks and rails. They don't seem to care that their agenda would irreparably damage economic development and kill jobs all across South Carolina.

"It's time for people of goodwill to stand against this narrow-minded band of radicals and their frivolous, irresponsible lawsuits."