Analyzing Carbon Emissions on a Cruise

Table Of Content

• cruise ships owned by Carnival Corporation released more toxic sulfur gasses than all the cars in Europe, study says
• EU proposes removal of post-Brexit travel barriers for young people
• The Loathe Boat: the honking cruise ships ‘ruining’ Istanbul’s port
• Responsible waste management
• Amsterdam bans new hotels in latest measure to curb mass tourism

Feeding on the same food source, these introduced species disrupted the local food chain and hindered the growth and development of these local species. Whereas cruise liners typically treat sewage on board, in some cases, they may be allowed to discharge treated sewage into the ocean, provided they comply with the regulations and the discharge occurs at a safe distance from shore. Millions of passengers every year board cruise liners all over the world. Although passenger numbers took a dip during the global pandemic, cruise lovers have come back on board. Cruise lines provide various cruise packages, including accommodation, food, and entertainment. Some of the biggest cruise companies include Carnival Corporation (including brands like Princess Cruise lines, Costa Cruises, Holland America Line, etc.), Royal Caribbean International, MSC Cruises, and Disney Cruise lines.

cruise ships owned by Carnival Corporation released more toxic sulfur gasses than all the cars in Europe, study says

In one example, they synthesised six papers on carbon dioxide emissions, which have significant impacts on both human and environmental health, through contributing to global warming. Available research suggest that a large cruise ship can have a carbon footprint greater than 12,000 cars. Passengers on an Antarctic cruise can produce as much CO2 emissions while on an average seven day voyage as the average European in an entire year. Within the Mediterranean, cruise and ferry ship CO2 emissions are estimated to be up to 10 per cent of all ship emissions. Disney cruises came top of the Friends of the Earth report card with a B- overall. It received three A’s for air pollution reduction, water quality compliance, and transparency and a C for sewage treatment.

Royal Caribbean’s 'Icon of the Seas' Highlights Climate Impact of Cruises - Bloomberg

Royal Caribbean’s 'Icon of the Seas' Highlights Climate Impact of Cruises.

Posted: Mon, 22 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

EU proposes removal of post-Brexit travel barriers for young people

The particulates from burning bunker fuel often get cleared out of the air through precipitation, thus eventually polluting the ocean, Jacobson says. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. Cruise lines can meet this requirement by going for cleaner fuel alternatives like Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) or using EGCS (scrubbers). According to Friends of the Earth, this cruise line was hit with a fine of $40 million for illegal waste disposal and put on federal criminal probation.

The Loathe Boat: the honking cruise ships ‘ruining’ Istanbul’s port

While a cruise around the Med or the Antarctic might seem like the height of all-inclusive luxury, you may not feel it’s worth the negative impacts after you read this. However, critics contend a lack of oversight and transparency persists in the industry when it comes to the treatment facilities’ effectiveness. “We don’t have the details, and we don’t have, which is the most important, independent third-party audits or third-party assessment of technology,” Hrvoje Carić, a researcher at Croatia’s Institute for Tourism, told Mongabay.

‘A good cruise is one that doesn’t come’: Europe’s ports bear brunt of ship pollution - The Guardian

‘A good cruise is one that doesn’t come’: Europe’s ports bear brunt of ship pollution.

Posted: Thu, 19 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

As such, cruise operators have been urged to switch to cleaner fuel alternatives with a lower sulfur content by 2020, but few have heeded these calls. Last year, the German watchdog Nabu surveyed 77 cruise ships and found that all but one used toxic heavy fuel oil that the group described as “dirtiest of all fuels”. This came a year after the same watchdog blew the whistle on German cruise operators for failing to adhere to their own air quality safety standards. The data collected reveals that standing on the deck of a cruise ship is similar to being in one of the world’s most polluted cities, with health experts warning of the issues surrounding poor air quality. Friends of the Earth’s Cruise Ship Report Card compares the environmental footprint of 18 major cruise lines and 213 cruise ships.

Latest Reportages

Studies have shown one cruise ship produces roughly the same amount of carbon emissions as 12,000 cars. COVID-19 lockdowns are no longer preventing vacationers from traveling the globe this summer, which has caused a jump in travel among Americans and elsewhere. More interest in travel, however, means renewed excitement for cruises. Carnival Cruise Line and other top cruise ship companies have been breaking records for ticket sales this year. But a water-bound vacation isn’t just a concern for infectious disease—these ships are having a massive effect on the climate. Experts are also concerned that while these advanced systems may offer a high degree of waste treatment, they don’t fix all problems.

It’s summer in Antarctica. Here’s how to explore responsibly.

On 30 July, six cruise ships stopped in Barcelona, the city T&E says is the European destination most affected by cruise ships. This means 10,000 to 30,000 passengers could be cascading along Barcelona’s Ramblas. If a high importance is placed on environmental compliance and making sure that systems are being maintained and used properly to allow the ships to meet standards, then a change is more likely to occur, he added.

Responsible waste management

Cruise ships have often been described as ‘floating cities’, and as environmental groups have pointed out that they are just as if not more polluting. A passenger’s carbon footprint triples in size when taking a cruise and the emissions produced can contribute to serious health issues. On top of the pollution caused by their exhaust fumes, cruise ships have been caught discarding trash, fuel, and sewage directly into the ocean. Electrical connections in ports have resulted in less air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in Hamburg, Rostock and Kiel. Venice was Europe’s third most polluted cruise port in 2019 but thanks to a 2021 ban on large cruise ships, the city has reduced sulphur emissions by 80%. The review combined research papers on a range of factors which have environmental or health impacts, or both.

Amsterdam bans new hotels in latest measure to curb mass tourism

Of the top cruise lines, Disney is open and transparent about their environmental impacts. Disney ships utilize fuel with a 0.1% sulfur content which is key to reducing climate-harming emissions. They like to provide their vacationers with a once-in-a-lifetime travel experience, including going to untouched areas of the planet and to create a “private island” experience. And however idyllic that sounds, there’s an environmental price to pay.

But for the majority of the industry, there's a long way to go, according to Kaltenstein. According to Friends of the Earth, there is a clear worst offender when it comes to environmental crimes. Boat and shipyard staff also have to live with difficult working environments and the risk of injury.

The cruise industry is implementing ECGS to be compliant with regulations in the U.S. and on a global scale but instead of using more refined marine fuel, he says they're still using heavy fuel oil and just treating it, which isn't ideal. "These investments are already showing significant progress towards reducing the environmental impact of the cruise industry, with many more technologies and practices currently under development," the statement continued. The statistic, while jarring, is a significant decrease from a few years ago, when the organization found ships owned by Carnival Corporation that visited European ports in 2017 emitted 10 times more sulfur oxides than all of Europe's cars. The plan includes a public commitment to zero emissions and to reducing speed below 12 knots within 25 miles of the coast. This would prevent ships from hitting whales and also eliminate sonic disturbance to marine wildlife and coastal areas. It comes from leftovers of the refining process and is used for large ships.

For a four-night Mediterranean cruise with three stops – meals included, but not drinks – Ana paid €259, the cost of a single night in a four-star hotel in Barcelona. In the past, however, thanks to last-minute ticket deals, Ana has managed to pay even less. One of the issues with plastics, Kaltenstein said, is that the systems for controlling plastic, to make sure it doesn't end up in the ocean, have been breaking down. "I think to not provision as much in terms of plastic is important; I'd like to see it all be done away with," he said. For those some 270 ships that are a part of the CLIA fleet, compliance with the policy is a condition for membership, he added. So with some progress and some missteps by cruise lines, it's a mixed bag in terms of how the industry as a whole is doing.

Cruise ships contribute significantly to the pollution of our environment. This includes air pollution, water pollution, sewage pollution, solid waste pollution, etc. Carnival Corporation is the biggest cruise company in the world with 10 cruise lines and is the most notorious cruise company for their environmental impacts. They have a long history of violating environmental regulations and have paid millions of dollars in fines — instead of cleaning up their act. Friends of the Earth works diligently to collect vital information about cruises to help the public understand their impacts. In our Cruise Ship Report Card we assess the largest cruise lines and their ships.

This was due to the dumping of waste oil and chemical waters in coastal waters. As ships load and unload ballast water, these organisms get released into the local environment. The problem is that they can travel in the ship’s ballast to ecosystems where they might prove harmful. Under the right conditions, these organisms can flourish and threaten resident populations. If a cruise ship has a faulty system or improper repair work, oils can leak from these areas and penetrate the oceans, causing pollution and threatening marine life. Cruise ships burn heavy fuel oils that contain harmful chemicals and substances like sulfur and heavy metals, which can leak into the oceans.

The company states that they have dedicated environmental officers on all of their ships and that they recycle more than 600 tonnes of metal, glass and plastic each year. Much of this rubbish is incinerated and disposed of at sea, putting countless sea creatures and marine life at risk. Royal Caribbean is also one of the world's largest cruise companies and is notorious for paying criminal fines. Cruise ships also release chemicals from sewage and other channels, causing pollution. Toxic chemicals from daily operations, industrial products, and other substances find their way into the oceans, posing a threat to marine creatures.

Ships are now installing scrubbers, which clean the inexpensive fuel but dump pollutants into the water. As we already know, the cruise industry has had major negative environmental and human health impacts. The cruise industry has had a negative environmental impact for many decades, putting human health, coastal communities, and our environment at risk. The 218 cruise ships operating in Europe last year emitted more than four times more sulphur oxides than all the continent’s cars combined, according to the NGO Transport & Environment (T&E). Sulphur dioxide causes respiratory and cardiovascular problems and its pollution is a key component of acid rain. Kaltenstein said that in terms of waste, the industry has done better over the last several years.