8 Ways Cruise Ships Contribute to Ocean Pollution
Every path presents problems. While shipping has no clear path at sea, pollution persists, posing a serious threat to our marine environment.
With approximately 90,000 ocean-going vessels, the maritime industry carries over 90% of global trade and contributes significantly to global pollution and climate change.
Studies show that the maritime industry emits a significant amount of pollutants, including over 3% of global carbon dioxide emissions, as well as deadly nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides. As one of the world’s most polluting industries, the surge in shipping has also significantly increased ship pollution. Consequently, the International Maritime Organization, a UN agency, has established regulations to limit emissions from the maritime industry.
Cruise lines play no role in the maritime industry. While cruise ships represent only a small portion of the industry, beyond providing entertainment, they are a significant source of ocean and marine pollution, just like commercial vessels. A single luxury cruise ship emits ten times more carbon than all the cars in Europe.
A cruise ship carrying 3,000 passengers produces 150,000 gallons of sewage and graywater, enough to fill 10 swimming pools. Cruise ships also generate many other hazardous wastes, such as oily ballast water and biological waste containing viruses.
In 2019, Carnival Cruise Line was fined $60 million for obstructing justice and illegally dumping large amounts of oil, plastic, and garbage into the ocean.
In 2018, the cruise industry served over 26 million passengers. The industry is expected to continue growing in the coming years. Environmental groups point out that passengers’ carbon footprint triples when they choose to cruise, as these “floating cities” produce approximately 15 gallons of hazardous chemical waste per day.
While marine conservation organizations and IMO are working to address these issues, much work remains.
How Cruise Ships Can Cause Marine Pollution?
The following are the main ways cruise ships threaten the marine environment and contribute to global pollution.
Ballast Water Pollution
Like other large ships, cruise ships use large amounts of ballast water to stabilize the vessel during voyages. Because these ships travel long distances, ballast water is typically replenished in one area and discharged to another when needed. The typical ballast water discharge is around 1,000 metric tons. Ballast water discharge from cruise ships is a major cause of cruise ship pollution.
Because ballast water contains microorganisms and other marine flora and fauna, pollution is primarily caused by local species and marine life. The massive jellyfish bloom in the Black Sea is an example of this environmental damage.
Air Pollution
Poor air quality is known to be one of the most serious health risks globally. The World Health Organization reports that 4.2 million people die each year from air pollution. Just as car exhaust emits harmful exhaust and toxic air, cruise ship engines also emit harmful gases.
The types of gases emitted by road vehicles and cruise ships at sea vary significantly, leading to significant pollution in marine areas. Similarly, recent studies have found that air pollution in the stern area of cruise ships, particularly fine particulate matter pollution, is comparable to that of major cities like Beijing.
Noise Pollution
The noise generated by passing ships can negatively impact the environment and disrupt marine ecosystems. Unlike other ships, cruise ships contribute significantly to marine noise pollution, with extremely high levels of noise pollution.
In addition to noise pollution from ship machinery, recreational activities on cruise ships also generate additional noise. This noise can disturb marine animals and mammals, including killer whales and dolphins, causing hearing loss, often leading to accidental deaths, and damage to entire ecosystems.
Graywater Pollution
Unlike other ships, cruise ships discharge large amounts of wastewater (after treatment plants) into the ocean, particularly graywater from sinks, toilets, showers, and galleys. Therefore, even common activities on a cruise ship, such as washing dishes and laundry, contribute to pollution.
The accumulated water, classified as graywater, contains harmful chemicals and sometimes metals. Due to its high concentration in seawater, graywater is particularly hazardous to the marine environment. Studies show that a large cruise ship discharges approximately one million gallons of graywater during a week-long voyage.
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Blackwater/Sewage Pollution
What happens if someone flushes the toilet on a cruise ship? The answer is obvious. Cruise ships discharge human waste (after treatment plants) into the ocean. We have larger cruise ships, accommodating up to 6,680 passengers and 2,200 crew members. Yes, sewage is the second leading cause of pollution from cruise ships.
Cruise ships are classified as “black water” emitters, discharging approximately 210,000 gallons of human waste into the ocean during a week-long voyage. This wastewater includes waste from the ship’s toilets and bathrooms. This wastewater is rich in bacteria and algae, negatively impacting marine life and the entire marine ecosystem.
Chemical pollution
Chemicals from cruise ships, which enter the ocean through graywater or blackwater pathways, are another threat to marine ecosystems.
Cruise ships discharge toxic chemicals from batteries, dry cleaning products, industrial products, chemicals used in daily operations, and many other expired materials, polluting the waters where the ships operate. Environmentalists believe these chemicals pose a significant threat to marine life.
Oil pollution/Belgian oil pollution
Oil pollution from the shipping industry is a major contributor to increased marine pollution. Cruise ships are larger than other ships and consume more heavy fuel oil, one of the most polluting fossil fuels on the market. This oil contains dangerous concentrations of sulfur, heavy metals, and other pollutants.
It is estimated that cruise ships use an average of 150 tons of heavy fuel oil per day. When these oils mix with seawater, they cause marine pollution. Engine system failures and improper maintenance contribute to oil leaks and mixing with seawater. Collisions and accidents also contribute to this type of oil pollution.
Solid Waste Pollution
It is estimated that cruise ships generate 24% of all solid waste from global maritime traffic. A single luxury cruise ship can produce 7 tons of garbage and solid waste per day.
Solid waste generated by cruise ships includes paper, cardboard, and aluminum. These materials form harmful debris on the ocean surface, posing a widespread threat to plant and marine life.
Coral Reef Damage
Cruise ships pose a serious threat to coral reefs and their associated organisms. As tourist vessels, cruise ships visit both disturbed and undisturbed coral reefs around the world, resulting in numerous incidents of damage to these natural wonders.
These incidents also impact the rich ecological integrity and biodiversity of coral reefs. In 2017, the British cruise ship MS Caledonian collided with a pristine coral reef in Indonesia, destroying 17,222 square feet of coral and causing irreparable damage exceeding $19 million.
Physical Damage to Marine Life
In addition to the air and water pollution caused by these cruise ships, whales and dolphins are also victims of the increasing traffic from these vessels. These large vessels cause harm and even death to marine life, particularly fin whales, killer whales, and humpback whales.
Given the risks and damage caused by cruise ships to the marine environment, countries have taken appropriate measures to protect it.
Cruise lines are slowly but steadily realizing the importance and need to protect marine ecosystems. Currently, providing a superior sailing experience while maintaining adequate care and protection for aquatic life remains a distant dream. We hope that this dream will become a reality in the years to come.
FAQs
1. How much pollution does a cruise ship generate?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, a cruise ship carrying 3,000 passengers produces 1 million gallons of graywater, 210,000 gallons of sewage, and 25,000 gallons of oily ballast water in just seven days.
2. How do cruise ships harm our environment?
Cruise ships consume large amounts of fuel. They also produce large amounts of solid and liquid waste, which is often dumped into the ocean, impacting marine flora and fauna. Carbon emissions released into the atmosphere pollute the air.
3. How toxic are cruise ships?
Some waste is incinerated onboard, producing ash and smoke containing toxic substances. During the disposal of this waste, toxic substances such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, and furans have been found in the fuel produced by the combustion.
4. What are the emissions of a single cruise ship?
The average cruise ship consumes approximately 150 tons of fuel per day and emits particulate matter equivalent to that of one million cars. Large cruise ships emit significantly higher levels.
5. Are there any environmentally friendly cruise ships?
With technological advancements and innovations, efforts are ongoing to reduce emissions from the shipping industry. Cruise ships are often associated with waste generation and pollution. However, some environmentally friendly ships are under construction, including the MSC Europa, which will be powered by liquefied natural gas.
