
Industry aims for environmental sustainability
The Advanced Water Treatment Systems aboard the cruise ships that visit Alaska produce potable water that meets all Alaska standards.
A new report from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) finds an industry-wide commitment to responsible tourism practices, with a focus on environmental sustainability and destination stewardship. The report highlights the industry’s $22 billion investment in the development of new energy efficient technologies, partnerships with local governments in key destinations, and a commitment to reducing its rate of carbon emissions by 40% by 2030 compared to 2008.
“While demand for cruising has reached new heights, the cruise industry is accelerating our efforts to be a leader in responsible tourism,” said Kelly Craighead, president and CEO, CLIA. “Our members are at the forefront of best practices designed to protect the sanctity of the destinations we visit and enhance the experiences of travelers and residents alike.”
- Industry Trends
- Environmental Sustainability: The development and identification of new technologies and cleaner fuels is a top priority for the cruise industry, which continues to make substantial investments in reducing environmental impact. CLIA’s most recent Environmental Technologies and Practice Report shows significant progress towards the adoption of new and innovative practices, while the industry continues to explore new ways to increase efficiencies.
-
- Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) – 44% of new build capacity will rely on LNG fuel for primary propulsion
- Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (ECGS) – 68% of global capacity currently utilizes EGCS, while 75% of non-LNG new-builds will have EGCS
- Advanced Wastewater Treatment Systems – 100% of new builds will have these systems in place
- Shore-side Power – 88% of new build capacity will have or be configured to add this ability.
- Additional Areas of Focus – battery propelled vessels, advanced recycling practices, reduced plastic use, energy-efficient lighting, solar energy, and fuel cell.
- Destination Stewardship: With increased demand and growth in the cruise industry comes responsibility to foster respect and cooperation with cruise destinations. In collaboration with local communities, the cruise industry is exploring new and creative ways to manage the flow of visitors and implement the highest standards of responsible tourism including:
-
- Partnerships with local governments
- Staggered arrivals and departures
- Excursion diversification
- Shoreside power
- Local passenger spending
Wastewater treatment & permits
Cruise ships discharge water that is treated to some of the world’s most stringent standards. Michelle Bonnet Hale, the former director of the Division of Water in the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), said it would be a step backward to require ships to hook up to community-based systems, as some have suggested. “Ironically, the discharge limits on the cruise ships are more stringent than those of the community systems. Cruise ship effluent is cleaner.”
After the Alaska State Legislature passed tough, new wastewater discharge standards in 2001, the industry invested more than $200 million to develop and install onboard technology to comply with these standards, including retrofitting existing ships. Today, cruise ships in Alaska have some of the best, most advanced wastewater treatment facilities in the world.
In February 2013, the Alaska Legislature passed, and Gov. Sean Parnell signed, HB 80, which allows DEC to permit operation of wastewater discharges from large commercial vessels in a manner consistent with other dischargers.
The law was supported by the findings of the Cruise Ship Science Advisory Panel, which was charged by the Legislature to examine wastewater treatment systems used by commercial passenger vessels, identify other “economically feasible methods” that could be employed and then analyze “environmental benefit and cost” of requiring additional technology.
“The Science Panel concluded that given the current level of wastewater treatment and quality of effluent, along with very large dilution factors, there would be little, if any, demonstrable environmental benefit in requiring cruise ships to adopt, in the future, potential additional treatment methods,” the governor wrote to the Legislature.