Bronte Wells
Cruise ships have been described as 'floating cities', and they are just as polluting, if not more so. A passenger's carbon footprint triples when taking a cruise, and emissions from exhaust fumes contribute to serious health issues. Cruise ships have been found to discard trash, fuel, sewage, and other pollutants directly into the ocean, and a large cruise ship can generate 150,000 gallons of sewage and greywater in a week. Cruise ships also emit toxic chemicals from batteries, dry cleaning, and industrial products, and they burn large amounts of heavy fuel oil, which is one of the dirtiest fossil fuels on the market. While cruise ships represent a small portion of the international shipping industry, their impact on specific coastal areas can be significant due to the large volumes of waste they produce.
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What You'll Learn
Cruise ships' carbon emissions
Cruise ships have been described as "floating cities", and environmental groups have pointed out that they are just as polluting, if not more so. A passenger's carbon footprint triples when taking a cruise, and the emissions produced can contribute to serious health issues. Cruise ships are large vessels designed to carry passengers in comfort and luxury across the seas and oceans. They are floating resorts with many amenities, such as restaurants, swimming pools, theatres, and other entertainment options. The emissions from cruise ships are caused by the quantity and quality of the fuel used. The biggest issues are the levels of nitrogen oxide, which has been linked to higher rates of cancer and other forms of respiratory disease, as well as carbon emissions.
Cruise ships have gained a reputation for contributing to carbon emissions. The largest and most efficient cruise ships emit around 250 grams of CO2 per passenger per kilometre, which is considerably higher than the carbon intensity of air travel, which ranges from 10 to 130 grams of CO2 per passenger per kilometre. An individual on a cruise ship emits as much CO2 as someone who travels by plane and stays in a hotel, which is about 421.43 kilograms of CO2 daily. On average, a cruise ship emits 250g of CO2 per passenger kilometre travelled, much more carbon-intensive than a short-haul flight. To put things into perspective, a cruise ship's carbon footprint surpasses 12,000 cars, and a medium-sized cruise ship can emit as much particulate matter as one million cars.
In addition to carbon emissions, cruise ships also release nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere, affecting the environment and human well-being. In Marseille, 57 cruise ships emitted in 2017 almost as much NOx as a quarter of the city's 340,000 passenger cars. Along the coasts of Norway, Denmark, Greece, Croatia, and Malta, a handful of cruise ships are responsible for more NOx than the majority of their domestic car fleets. In 2017, Carnival Corporation, the world's largest luxury cruise operator, emitted nearly ten times more sulphur oxide (SOx) around European coasts than all 260 million European cars. Royal Caribbean Cruises, the world's second-largest, emitted four times more. SOx emissions form sulphate aerosols that increase human health risks and contribute to acidification in terrestrial and aquatic environments.
There are technologies available to reduce emissions from cruise ships, such as shore-side electricity, batteries for shorter distances, and hydrogen technology. Some cruise companies are investing in ships capable of running on methanol, and liquefied natural gas (LNG), which cuts down on particulate emissions and certain dangerous pollutants like sulphur and nitrogen oxides. LNG has about 30% lower carbon dioxide emissions than using heavy fuel oil. However, the overall emissions picture of using LNG is likely worse for global climate change than if the cruise lines had stuck with petroleum, as natural gas is itself a powerful greenhouse gas with a warming potential more than 80 times greater than CO2 over a 20-year timescale.
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Hazardous chemical and sewage dumping
Cruise ships produce a significant amount of waste, including sewage, greywater, hazardous wastes, oily bilge water, ballast water, and solid waste. These wastes, if not properly treated and disposed of, can have detrimental effects on the environment and human health.
Hazardous Chemical Dumping
Cruise ships generate hazardous wastes and toxic substances through various activities on board, such as ship maintenance and passenger services. From 1993 to 1998, there were 87 confirmed cases of illegal discharges of hazardous wastes, oil, and garbage into US waters by cruise ships, resulting in millions of dollars in fines. In 2001, Royal Caribbean admitted to installing special piping to bypass pollution control devices and was fined $33.5 million. Carnival Corporation was fined $18 million in 2002 for falsifying records to cover up pollution. In 2002, a whistleblower lawsuit was filed against Carnival Cruise Lines, alleging toxic chemical dumping, among other environmental violations.
The management and disposal of hazardous wastes from cruise ships are subject to regulations such as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and Section 311 of the Clean Water Act. However, the applicability of RCRA to cruise ships is not entirely clear, and there are questions about the adequacy and enforcement of existing laws.
Sewage Dumping
Cruise ships produce large amounts of sewage, also known as blackwater, during their voyages. On a typical one-week voyage, a large cruise ship can generate up to 210,000 US gallons (790,000 litres) of sewage. Sewage includes human waste from toilets, as well as wastewater from sinks, showers, laundries, and galleys. If not properly treated and disposed of, sewage can pose risks to human health and the environment, including the contamination of marine ecosystems.
To address this, cruise ships are required to adhere to regulations regarding sewage treatment and disposal, such as those set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and national agencies like the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Treated sewage is released into designated bodies of water, and solid waste is kept until it can be disposed of correctly on land. Some cruise ships also have incineration facilities to deal with solid waste. However, there are concerns about the adequacy of existing laws and enforcement to manage sewage waste effectively.
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Oil pollution
Cruise ships generate a variety of waste streams, including oily bilge water, sewage, greywater, ballast water, and solid waste, which can be released into the marine environment. The oily bilge water is created when the bilge oil mixes with ocean water, which can occur due to faulty engine systems, improper repair work, or accidents. A mid-sized cruise ship releases 25,000 gallons of oily bilge water in just seven days, and 7,000 gallons each time the ship empties its bilge tanks.
The discharge of oil and oil-based products by cruise ships is a significant issue, with 83% of cases involving such discharges, ranging from a few drops to hundreds of gallons. In addition to direct discharges, cruise ships also emit toxic chemicals from batteries, dry cleaning, industrial products, and expired chemicals, which further contribute to oil pollution in the oceans.
To address oil pollution from cruise ships, regulations such as the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) and the Clean Water Act in the United States have been implemented. The Clean Water Act prohibits the discharge of oil or hazardous substances in harmful quantities into navigable waters. However, cruise ships are exempt from certain permit requirements, making it challenging to monitor and regulate their oil discharges effectively.
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Air pollution
Cruise ships have been found to cause significant air pollution, particularly in port cities. The air quality on the deck of a cruise ship can be worse than in the world's most polluted cities.
The most common type of fuel used by cruise ships is heavy fuel oil (also called bunker oil or marine fuel), which is highly polluting. It is cheap, but it emits harmful sulphur and nitrogen oxides, which have been linked to causing premature death and respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses in humans. In 2017, 57 cruise ships emitted almost as much nitrogen oxide as a quarter of Marseille's 340,000 passenger cars. Along the coasts of Norway, Denmark, Greece, Croatia, and Malta, a handful of cruise ships emit more nitrogen oxide than the majority of the domestic car fleet.
Cruise ships also emit black carbon or "soot", which is created through the partial combustion of diesel, coal, or other biomass. Black carbon is an environmental hazard as it absorbs sunlight, heating the atmosphere and contributing to the climate emergency. It is particularly harmful in the Arctic as it reduces the natural 'albedo' effect, leading to greater melt and warming.
Some cruise ships are now opting for liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel, which reduces direct air pollution emissions. However, the engines that use LNG leak unburned methane into the atmosphere, which has higher life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions. Other cruise ships use scrubbers to reroute pollution from the air into the water, but this contaminated water has been linked to cancers and reproductive dysfunction in marine mammals.
To reduce air pollution, some ports, such as California, require cruise ships to use shore power, and the Port of Vancouver has banned the use of scrubbers. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is also developing regulations to phase out greenhouse gas emissions from cruise ships, but these are currently too weak.
Overall, cruise ships contribute to air pollution through the emission of harmful gases and particles, and while some steps are being taken to mitigate this pollution, more action is needed to reduce their impact on the environment and human health.
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Environmental and health impacts
Cruise ships have been described as "floating cities", and environmental groups have pointed out that they are just as polluting, if not more so. A passenger's carbon footprint triples when taking a cruise, and the emissions produced can contribute to serious health issues. Cruise ships emit large amounts of carbon, with a medium-sized cruise ship emitting as much particulate matter as one million cars. A large cruise ship can generate 210,000 gallons of human sewage and one million gallons of greywater during a one-week voyage. Greywater, which comes from sinks, baths, showers, laundry, and galleys, contains harmful chemicals, metals, and minerals, which can harm marine life and ecosystems. Blackwater, or sewage, contains bacteria, viruses, and parasites, which can also harm marine life and ecosystems.
Cruise ships also generate large volumes of oily bilge water, sewage sludge, garbage, and hazardous wastes. In addition, they spew a range of pollutants into the air, including nitrogen oxide, which has been linked to acid rain, higher rates of cancer, and other forms of respiratory disease. Cruise ships burning heavy fuel oil release dangerous levels of sulfur and heavy metals, which mix with oceanic water and cause marine pollution. Oil pollution from the shipping industry is the main reason for increased marine pollution. Cruise ships, which are huge compared to other vessels, burn more heavy fuel oil, contributing significantly to this problem.
The impact of cruise ships on fragile habitats and wildlife is significant. They release waste into the oceans, contribute to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, and pose risks to animals. Air pollution from cruise ships has negatively impacted the air quality in Europe's port cities, surpassing pre-pandemic pollution levels. As the cruise industry continues to grow, with an increase in vessel size, these environmental issues will become more significant.
The rapidly expanding size and number of cruise ships in US waters has triggered a national cruise ship pollution crisis. Environmental laws have not kept pace with the growth of the industry, and new laws and standards are urgently needed. In France, 10% of air pollution in the port city of Marseille can be directly attributed to the shipping industry, and locals lament the increase in pollution and health issues associated with more luxury cruise liners docking in the harbor. It is estimated that over 50,000 Europeans die prematurely each year due to shipping-based pollution. In the UK, a single cruise ship can emit as much pollution as 700 trucks and as much particulate matter as a million cars, resulting in the premature deaths of between 40,000 and 100,000 Britons annually.
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Frequently asked questions
Cruise ships have been described as "floating cities", and environmental groups have pointed out that they are just as polluting, if not more so. Cruise ships generate large volumes of oily bilge water, sewage sludge, garbage, and hazardous wastes, which are then dumped into the ocean. Cruise ships also emit carbon emissions and dangerous particulates, which contribute to ocean pollution.
Cruise ship pollution can negatively impact ecosystems, coastal communities, and wildlife. It can also contribute to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, posing risks to animals and humans.
There are international and domestic laws in place to address cruise ship pollution, such as the Clean Water Act and the Small Vessel General Permit (sVGP) for smaller cruise ships. Environmental groups are also advocating for stricter laws and regulations to stop cruise ships from dumping waste into the oceans. Some cruise lines have also implemented their own initiatives to manage cruise ship pollution.
Cruise ships represent a small but highly visible portion of the international shipping industry. However, they can emit as much pollution as 700 trucks and as much particulate matter as a million cars. A study found that a typical cruise ship emits roughly 421.43 kg of CO2 daily, eight times more than an individual on land.
Individuals can make informed decisions when choosing a cruise by considering the environmental and human health impacts of different cruise ships and lines. Friends of the Earth, for example, ranks the top cruise lines based on their environmental performance. Individuals can also support organizations that are working to reduce cruise ship pollution, such as Oceana, and advocate for stricter laws and regulations to hold the cruise industry accountable.
