Cruise Ships
and the Problem of Pollution
Although accurate figures are impossible to gauge, a considerable amount of the water pollution in the Caribbean stems from ship-generated waste
(including unprocessed waste and plastic products) which is illegally
discharged into the ocean.
During a typical one-week voyage, a large cruise ship (with 3,000 passengers and crew) is estimated to generate 210,000 gallons of sewage; 1 million gallons of graywater (wastewater from sinks, showers, and laundries); more than 130 gallons of hazardous wastes; 8 tons of solid waste; and 25,000 gallons of oily bilge water. Although most ships are registered to countries which are signatory to international environmental protocols and subject to standards for waste treatment, storage and disposal, there is increased evidence that cruise ship waste is reaching the shore of many Caribbean islands. The cruise industry has already voluntarily agreed to exceed the rules that are currently in place, something that most cruise lines feel is going above and beyond what is necessary to properly dispose of their waste.
The industry claims that member lines treat all sewage and discharge
it only when ships are at least 4 nautical miles from shore (12 miles for Royal Caribbean) and moving at least 6 knots per hour, to better disperse it. Pollution problems stem from cruise ships and coastal developments are compounded by soil erosion and low water circulation, both of which significantly contribute to coral reef degradation and the loss of marine life. Evidence of the multiple sources of pollution are seen where severe damage to coral reef appears off the coasts of Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica, countries with high rates of deforestation, population growth and poverty.
Meanwhile, cruise ship passengers are also recognizing that their attractive, modern and efficient vacation voyage may entail the dumping of unwanted baggage along the way, in the form of illegal discharge of waste into the ocean.
A recent suit against Princess Cruises resulted in a $250,000 award to cruise passengers who witnessed and video-taped a trail of plastic garbage bags dumped into the sea.All industry leaders such as Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Carnival Cruises, Celebrity Cruise Lines, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, and Holland America Cruise Lines are now in the process of installing special equipment that will purify the wastewater onboard the ship before it is pumped back into the ocean.
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Cruise Journal Summer Edition 2008
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