Giant Steps: Addressing the Pollution Problem in the Cruise Industry
March 14, 2005
Over the past several years, cruise lines have overtly developed environmentally responsible values into their corporate principles because after all, where would they be without the health and well-being of our world's oceans? Environmental updates documenting their efforts to address pollution problems appear regularly on their websites, ships are being updated with advanced wastewater treatment systems and recycling programs are in full swing. Cruise lines have even paired with universities and other environmental organizations by installing scientific data-gathering devices to aid in the assessing of ocean pollution and researching global climate changes and weather patterns. And better still---new environmentally-friendly technology is sending promises of emissions-free ocean transport!
The first ship to use the technology will actually be a cargo vessel but if successful, the technology will be used for passenger cruise ships. The E/S Orcelle (E/S for environmentally-sound) derives energy from the sun, wind and ocean waves. The energy is captured using sails, solar panels and wave energy converters and is used to extract hydrogen from water using fuel-cell technology. The result is clean energy and emissions-free cruising! Scandenavian designers, Wallenius Wilhelmson, will unveil a model of their E/S Orcelle at the world trade fair in Japan, next month.
Advancements in technology are also happening rapidly in the water treatment department. Research for the development of the treatment of gray water (waste water from sinks, showers and kitchens) is currently in the works. Carnival has installed a black/gray water Rochem system aboard their ship, Carnival Spirit. This system is used to treat gray and black water, rendering it usable for toilet flushing, laundry and deck washing---the ultimate in recycling.
Last April several cruise lines signed voluntary agreements with the Washington State Department of Ecology that among other things banned all wastewater discharges unless vessels are equipped with advanced treatment systems certified by the Coast Guard. Royal Caribbean is currently installing advanced water treatment plants and expects to have them operating on 29 of its vessels by 2008. Princess Cruise lines has launched a program with the ports of Seattle and Juneau to improve the harbor air quality by plugging in to land-based electricity supplies while at port rather than running diesel-powered generators.
But alas, developments can't be made fast enough. On track to be heard before the US Congress this session is The Clean Cruise Ships Bill, an effort to make wastewater treatment equipment mandatory, ban the discharge of sewage and grey water within 12 miles of the U.S. coastline and authorize the Coast Guard and the EPA to develop and enforce the new standards. Several U.S. states have already enacted their own regulations for curbing pollutants.
These developments in state and federal law as well as the progressive actions on the part of the cruise industry are signs that a bright future is still to come and that our precious oceans, our currently unspoiled, vulnerable islands and ports will always be there.
Meghann PorterBook your cruise online
