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| A Woman's Directory For Travel and Life. WAVE Journey is your one stop online resource for women oriented businesses and services around the world. WAVE Journey is for every woman to enjoy. If you love to travel, cook, read or revel in outdoor activities this website is for you. If you are looking to connect with other like-minded women or if you are interested in finding businesses or services that cater to women, WAVE Journey is your number one online resource. Cruise Ships & The Environment! ~ article by Betsy Scherr, photo courtesy of WAVEJourney.com |
| WAVE Journey |
| Women's Adventures, Vacations & Experiences ~ Your Journey Starts Here! |
This past month I have been investigating the
cruise industry and the impact their ships have on
the environment. How do these vessels affect the
air we breathe, the marine mammals we love and
the oceans we share? As they say, “the devil is in
the details” and there are a lot of details with
regards to this issue!
Let me begin by saying, in the past most cruise
lines did a pretty lousy job of protecting the
environment, dumping waste water and other
chemicals into the oceans without much thought
cruise industry and the impact their ships have on
the environment. How do these vessels affect the
air we breathe, the marine mammals we love and
the oceans we share? As they say, “the devil is in
the details” and there are a lot of details with
regards to this issue!
Let me begin by saying, in the past most cruise
lines did a pretty lousy job of protecting the
environment, dumping waste water and other
chemicals into the oceans without much thought
to their harmful effects. But, they have come a long way since the early days and seldom are their
good deeds reported across front pages of major newspapers! Some have become stewards of
the environment, others have not.
According to CLIA (Cruise Line International Association), over 13.5 million people took a cruise in
2009. The industry was worth $38billion and employed roughly 350,000 United States workers.
They are a substantial force in the travel industry and growing bigger every year. On average, a
one-week cruise on a large ship is estimated to produce 210,000 gallons of sewage, a million
gallons of gray water, 25,000 gallons of oily bilge water, 11,500 gallons of sewage sludge and
130 gallons of hazardous wastes. Where the heck does all that “stuff” go?
good deeds reported across front pages of major newspapers! Some have become stewards of
the environment, others have not.
According to CLIA (Cruise Line International Association), over 13.5 million people took a cruise in
2009. The industry was worth $38billion and employed roughly 350,000 United States workers.
They are a substantial force in the travel industry and growing bigger every year. On average, a
one-week cruise on a large ship is estimated to produce 210,000 gallons of sewage, a million
gallons of gray water, 25,000 gallons of oily bilge water, 11,500 gallons of sewage sludge and
130 gallons of hazardous wastes. Where the heck does all that “stuff” go?
Basically, there are five major items of concern with regard to ships and
waste products: human sewage (blackwater) gray water (runoff from sinks,
showers, galleys) oily bilge water (engine & machinery parts) solid waste
(plastic, paper, cans, glass) & hazardous waste (photo processing chemicals,
dry cleaning waste, used paint). A December 2008 EPA Discharge
Assessment Report shows that in general most cruise lines were in violation
of various United States standards for the disposal of the “big five”
mentioned above. There is no simple solution to any of these issues. The
EPA Report did have a section on “Possible Options and Alternatives to
Generally Address Cruise Ship Discharges’ starting on page 15 of their 162
page report. They list a summary of further research needed, enforcement &
compliance suggestions and Industry Standards to develop with the Cruise
Lines. A bit complicated, but overall a very detailed report.
waste products: human sewage (blackwater) gray water (runoff from sinks,
showers, galleys) oily bilge water (engine & machinery parts) solid waste
(plastic, paper, cans, glass) & hazardous waste (photo processing chemicals,
dry cleaning waste, used paint). A December 2008 EPA Discharge
Assessment Report shows that in general most cruise lines were in violation
of various United States standards for the disposal of the “big five”
mentioned above. There is no simple solution to any of these issues. The
EPA Report did have a section on “Possible Options and Alternatives to
Generally Address Cruise Ship Discharges’ starting on page 15 of their 162
page report. They list a summary of further research needed, enforcement &
compliance suggestions and Industry Standards to develop with the Cruise
Lines. A bit complicated, but overall a very detailed report.
For example, under” Enforcement” the EPA recommends the following:
*Improve monitoring and inspections.
*Charge a passenger fee to put a marine engineer onboard cruise ships,
especially when sailing in pristine waters, to observe ship waste treatment
practices, verify logbook entries, examines discharges, and ensure that the
ships are maintaining their waste water treatment systems.
*Allow for state personnel to inspect cruise ship pollution control equipment,
in addition to Coast Guard inspections.
* Encourage a uniform national approach for environmental regulations
pertaining to cruise ship discharges to reduce conflicting regulations as
cruise ships travel from port to port.
The recommendations continue. You can read the entire report at:
www.epa.
gov/owow/oceans/cruise_ships/pdf/0812cruiseshipsdischargeassess.pdf
*Improve monitoring and inspections.
*Charge a passenger fee to put a marine engineer onboard cruise ships,
especially when sailing in pristine waters, to observe ship waste treatment
practices, verify logbook entries, examines discharges, and ensure that the
ships are maintaining their waste water treatment systems.
*Allow for state personnel to inspect cruise ship pollution control equipment,
in addition to Coast Guard inspections.
* Encourage a uniform national approach for environmental regulations
pertaining to cruise ship discharges to reduce conflicting regulations as
cruise ships travel from port to port.
The recommendations continue. You can read the entire report at:
www.epa.
gov/owow/oceans/cruise_ships/pdf/0812cruiseshipsdischargeassess.pdf
There is a new bill before Congress, “The Clean Cruise Ship Act” (S.1820/H.R.
3888). I found many of the items in this bill to be reasonable. For example,
why not have one federal law for all states regarding the discharge of
sewage, gray water & bilge water? The bill would amend the Clean Water
Act and “amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to establish national
standards for cruise vessels”. One of the items in the bill would require all
ships to not discharge their sewage within 12 miles of United States
coastlines. Right now, each state has their own rules & regulations
regarding cruise ships and disposal of these products. Alaska & California
laws are very stringent, others states are not. The new law would prohibit
the discharge of sewage sludge, incinerator ash, and hazardous waste
within 200 miles of the US shoreline. They also want to implement an
observer/monitoring program on all ships and establish unannounced annual
inspections. Lobbyists in Washington who represent the cruise industry are
not exactly jumping for joy over this new bill. They see it as unnecessary
regulation, added expense, and an intrusion on their business practices.
3888). I found many of the items in this bill to be reasonable. For example,
why not have one federal law for all states regarding the discharge of
sewage, gray water & bilge water? The bill would amend the Clean Water
Act and “amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to establish national
standards for cruise vessels”. One of the items in the bill would require all
ships to not discharge their sewage within 12 miles of United States
coastlines. Right now, each state has their own rules & regulations
regarding cruise ships and disposal of these products. Alaska & California
laws are very stringent, others states are not. The new law would prohibit
the discharge of sewage sludge, incinerator ash, and hazardous waste
within 200 miles of the US shoreline. They also want to implement an
observer/monitoring program on all ships and establish unannounced annual
inspections. Lobbyists in Washington who represent the cruise industry are
not exactly jumping for joy over this new bill. They see it as unnecessary
regulation, added expense, and an intrusion on their business practices.
I interviewed the VP of Environmental Stewardship at Royal Caribbean,
Jamie Sweeting. His background as a conservationist was refreshing,
considering he works for a large cruise company. Before joining Royal
Caribbean (RCI-RCCL) in 2008, which comprises five brands and 38 ships,
Jamie worked for various environmental organizations. He shared with me
details about programs & new technology at RCI-RCCL that is impacting the
planet in positive ways. For instance, all but one of their Celebrity Ships are
now equipped with AWTS’s, Advanced Sewage Treatment Systems. Royal
Caribbean will spend over $150 million before they are finished converting
their ships to this new sewage system. They also discharge sewage 12
miles or more offshore. (Laws currently allow ships to dump in most areas 3
miles off coastal shores.) With regard to hazardous waste, RCI-RCCL does
not dump in the ocean. It is brought back to shore and transferred to a third
party on land to dispose of.
Jamie Sweeting. His background as a conservationist was refreshing,
considering he works for a large cruise company. Before joining Royal
Caribbean (RCI-RCCL) in 2008, which comprises five brands and 38 ships,
Jamie worked for various environmental organizations. He shared with me
details about programs & new technology at RCI-RCCL that is impacting the
planet in positive ways. For instance, all but one of their Celebrity Ships are
now equipped with AWTS’s, Advanced Sewage Treatment Systems. Royal
Caribbean will spend over $150 million before they are finished converting
their ships to this new sewage system. They also discharge sewage 12
miles or more offshore. (Laws currently allow ships to dump in most areas 3
miles off coastal shores.) With regard to hazardous waste, RCI-RCCL does
not dump in the ocean. It is brought back to shore and transferred to a third
party on land to dispose of.
Environmental activists have accused the cruise industry of not using what is
called “cold ironing” or plugging in when ships are in port. Princess Cruises
uses these plug ins. RCI-RCCL does not. As Jamie explained to me, there are
only five piers that are equipped with this technology. Plus, he is not
convinced that plugging in while in port is the best environmental solution.
Where is the power coming from? Is it the most eco-friendly power? Is it
better to spend money for research on fuel efficiency and reducing toxic air
emissions, rather than spend millions having the piers fitted for new power
plug in’s? RCI-RCCL, as a company, has a goal to reduce carbon emissions
by one third by 2015.
called “cold ironing” or plugging in when ships are in port. Princess Cruises
uses these plug ins. RCI-RCCL does not. As Jamie explained to me, there are
only five piers that are equipped with this technology. Plus, he is not
convinced that plugging in while in port is the best environmental solution.
Where is the power coming from? Is it the most eco-friendly power? Is it
better to spend money for research on fuel efficiency and reducing toxic air
emissions, rather than spend millions having the piers fitted for new power
plug in’s? RCI-RCCL, as a company, has a goal to reduce carbon emissions
by one third by 2015.
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