Bronte Wells
Cruise ships are a major source of pollution, threatening the health of the world's oceans and the communities they sail through. Cruise ships produce a similar amount of waste to cities and industries, yet they are not held to the same environmental protection standards. For example, an average-sized cruise ship with 3,000 passengers and crew dumps 30,000 gallons of sewage into the ocean every day. While some jurisdictions have implemented anti-pollution measures, they are often ineffective or insufficient, and cruise lines have a history of bypassing and disabling pollution control devices. To stop cruise ship pollution, stricter regulations and enforcement are needed, as well as the adoption of new technologies and cleaner fuels.
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What You'll Learn
Stop dumping raw sewage into the ocean
Sewage dumping by cruise ships is a major contributor to ocean pollution. An average-sized cruise ship with 3000 passengers and crew produces 30,000 gallons of sewage every day, along with 255,000 gallons of dirty water from showers, sinks, laundries, and dishwashers. This waste not only contains human waste but also chemicals, pharmaceuticals, bacteria, viruses, heavy metals, and hazardous waste that can be harmful to both human health and marine life.
Cruise ships are currently not held to the same environmental protection standards as cities and industries that produce similar amounts of waste. In the United States, cruise ships are exempt from the Clean Water Act, which requires industries to have a permit to treat and discharge waste. This means that cruise ships are not required to have permits to dump raw sewage into the ocean, and there is no requirement for monitoring, testing, or reporting of sewage discharge. As a result, it is difficult for governments and the public to know the exact amount of pollution released, and there are limited options for enforcement and accountability.
To address this issue, there have been calls for stricter regulations and enforcement of anti-pollution measures for cruise ships. Some jurisdictions, such as California and several European countries, have banned the dumping of scrubber wastewater, which is a significant source of ocean acidification and pollution. However, international and Canadian rules still allow ships to use heavy fuel oil and scrubbers, contributing to water pollution.
One solution proposed by organizations like Oceana is the installation of sewage treatment technology on cruise ships. This technology has been proven effective in Alaska, where state laws require its use. While the initial installation costs may be significant, they can be offset by a small increase in ticket prices. Additionally, cruise customers have expressed a willingness to pay a premium to ensure that raw sewage is not dumped into the ocean. By adopting these technologies and implementing stricter regulations, cruise ships can significantly reduce their impact on ocean pollution.
Furthermore, it is important to address the issue of waste management on cruise ships. While some cruise lines have started recycling initiatives, there are still reports of illegal garbage dumping, including plastic waste and food waste. Better waste management practices, such as proper disposal of trash at ports and the use of onboard observers to ensure compliance, can help reduce the amount of waste discharged into the ocean.
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Ban the use of scrubbers
Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems, or scrubbers, are detrimental to the marine environment, wildlife, and people's health. Scrubbers are supposed to remove sulfur and toxic pollutants from the exhaust gases produced by ships' combustion engines. However, instead of preventing air pollution, scrubbers transfer the pollution from the air and dump it into the ocean.
About 90% of the discharge from cruise ships comes from engine-exhaust scrubbers that use water to trap pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, carcinogens, and heavy metals. Scrubber discharge worsens ocean acidification, limiting the ability of marine creatures like oysters, clams, prawns, and crabs to form shells, especially in the early stages of their life. Heavy metals and toxins from the wastewater can also build up in the food chain, threatening the health and reproduction of marine animals, especially larger ones like endangered resident killer whales.
A recent report argues that it is urgent to limit the harmful impacts of scrubbers on the marine environment and human health. Burning cleaner distillate fuels removes the need for scrubbers. More than 45 countries have already banned scrubber discharge or adopted regulations to limit it. California, for example, has banned heavy fuel oils near its coastlines since 2008, making scrubbers unnecessary.
Given the significant environmental and human health risks, scrubber use should be banned. Without a ban on the discharge of scrubber wastewater, ecosystems, ocean resources, and coastal communities will continue to be threatened.
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Implement shore-to-ship power
Shore-to-ship power is a proven method for reducing emissions from vessels in ports. This technology has been used successfully by the U.S. Navy for decades and has been shown to reduce emissions and fuel costs, leading to lower operational costs. Shore power installations produce zero on-site emissions, and the electricity generated from renewable sources can enable ships to achieve zero-carbon operations.
To implement shore-to-ship power, ships must be retrofitted with vessel-side infrastructure to connect to shore power systems. This can be costly and requires careful planning. However, the relative cost of using shore power is more attractive when fuel costs are greater than electricity costs. Ports must also have the appropriate infrastructure to connect to vessels with shore power components, which often requires upgraded connections to the electrical grid.
To ensure the successful implementation of shore-to-ship power, early and frequent interaction and planning between the port, regulatory agencies, and utilities are essential. System designs must be flexible to accommodate vessels of all sizes and types, and future demand must be considered.
Regulatory mandates and incentives, including government subsidies, have played a significant role in the adoption of shore power by ports. As of 2022, there has been significant expansion in the application of shore power in the United States, with projects at several ports, including Galveston, Miami, and Philadelphia.
From 2030 onwards, all container and passenger ships will be required to connect to shore power when in a Trans-European Network port for more than two hours. This legislation is expected to set a precedent for similar laws worldwide, making shore power connections essential for ships.
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Require cruise ships to use cleaner-burning fuels
Cruise ships are significant contributors to ocean pollution, and one of the major sources of this pollution is the discharge of untreated sewage and wastewater. While some jurisdictions have implemented anti-pollution measures, they often do not address the largest sources of acidic wastewater from these ships.
One way to combat this issue is to require cruise ships to use cleaner-burning fuels, such as liquified natural gas (LNG). LNG is considered a cleaner-burning fuel compared to traditional marine fuels like heavy fuel oil. It produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions, sulphur oxides (SOx), and particulate matter, leading to improved air quality and reduced environmental impact. LNG also helps cruise ships comply with stringent environmental regulations, such as the IMO's sulphur cap. Additionally, LNG-powered engines generally operate at lower noise levels, enhancing the experience for passengers.
However, transitioning to LNG as a fuel for cruise ships comes with certain challenges. Firstly, there are significant upfront costs associated with retrofitting or building new cruise ships to run on LNG. The development of LNG infrastructure at ports, including bunkering facilities, can also be expensive. Currently, there are about 165 LNG facilities and bunker vessels in operation globally, which is quite limited.
Another concern is methane slip, where LNG combustion engines release unburned methane into the atmosphere. As methane is a powerful global warming gas, this can have significant environmental impacts. LNG is also highly flammable, raising safety concerns and requiring strict protocols and specialized training for crew members.
Despite these challenges, several cruise ship companies have started embracing LNG as a transitional fuel. Over 20 LNG-fuelled cruise ships are in operation or under construction, and companies such as Carnival, Disney, Royal Caribbean, and MSC are moving in this direction. Other alternative fuels, such as methanol and hydrogen, are also being explored as potential solutions to reduce the environmental impact of cruise ships.
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Ensure independent onboard observers
The cruise industry is a billion-dollar business, with millions of people taking to the seas each year. As the industry grows, so does its environmental impact. Cruise ships are full of pollutants, and their emissions, waste, and noise all negatively impact the health of our oceans, coastal communities, and climate.
Cruise ships are not held to the same environmental protection standards as cities and industries that produce similar amounts of waste. For example, cruise ships are exempt from the discharge permitting program of the Clean Water Act, which requires industries and cities to have a permit to treat and discharge wastes. This means that cruise ships are not required to have permits to dump raw sewage into the oceans, and they are not required to test or report what they release. This makes it difficult for governments and the public to know how much pollution is being released, and there is no opportunity for citizen enforcement.
To address this issue, independent onboard observers can be placed on cruise ships to ensure that they are complying with sewage and greywater rules. This could involve the installation of electronic monitors or on-board observers to make sure that the waste treatment solution is real. These observers would be independent of the cruise companies and would have the power to enforce the rules and catch rule-breakers.
In addition to independent onboard observers, other solutions to cruise ship pollution include the installation of new technologies. For example, ships can install sewage treatment technology to stop dumping raw sewage into the oceans. While a few ships are testing these technologies and proving they work, the cruise industry has largely refused to install them. Additionally, even when treatment systems are installed, there is no guarantee that they are being used, as the industry has a history of bypassing and disabling pollution control devices. Therefore, independent onboard observers are necessary to ensure that these treatment solutions are being used effectively.
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Frequently asked questions
Cruise ships pollute the ocean by dumping raw sewage and wastewater into the ocean. An average-sized cruise ship with 3000 passengers and crew dumps 30,000 gallons of sewage into the oceans every day.
Solutions to stop cruise ship pollution include the installation of shore-to-ship power, allowing ships to plug into the local power grid and switch off their engines while moored. Another solution is to install sewage treatment technology on cruise ships, which has been proven to work in Alaska.
Individuals can support organizations like Oceana that are working to stop cruise ship pollution through policy advocacy, science, law, and public education. Individuals can also sign petitions, such as Jamie Parker MP's petition to switch off ships by installing shore-to-ship power.
