Skip to main content

Eco-friendly Initiatives

Most, if not all, cruise ships & boats historically belch diesel fumes, dump fuel & waste AND their passengers increasingly overrun ports-of-call and their tourist facilities & sites.

Anecdote: Tallinn, Estonia's Old Town: Cruise ships absolutely OVER RUN Tallinn's Town Hall Square & historical Old Town renedering it a chaos of shopping stalls & restaurants. Solution: If not a cruiser, do self-guide walking tour before tourists arrive or after ...if even possile. 

Euro News (02/14/24):  “Where-will-ships-stop-instead?”  

Venice was forced to ban cruise ships from its center in 2021 after lagoon damage AND UNESCO threatened “ endangered list” status unless ships were prohibited. Experts say … large boats pollute & erode city foundations exacerbating regular flooding.   Feb 14, 2024

In response to regulatory pressures, environmentalists, local citizenry, customer demand, & public at large cruise industry presumably seeks to truly mitigate the negative eco-impacts of cruising.

Cruise Industry's Eco-mitigation Initiatives.

A. Harmful Emissions Reduction: Transition from heavy fuel oils TO: 
    1. LNG usage:  which significantly reduces oxides (SOx, NOx) & greenhouse gases. 
    2. Electric or Hybrid Boats: with solar panels/batteries or more efficient engines (China’s Li River
            quiet & exhaust-free bamboo boats); .Green methanol or hydrogen fuels.

Anecdote: Li River (Lijiang), ChinaChina's magnificently scenic Li River boat ride to Xingping is advertised as serene, but mere 'puffery.' It is anything but; just dozens of loud diesel engines and fumes.Tourist promotional images show quiet gorgeous river scenes, but my reality: --- a constant flotilla of roaring diesel-engined tourist boats. Note: best way to watch my Li River footage is to turn off volume because I purposely tried to avoid filming other boats, but not totally possible. Also, watch Edward Norton's gorgeous movie,  "Painted Veil" filmed in Li River area.   

This video shows a few clips with sound, in others I have suppressed the engine noise.

    3. Operational Practices: 
        a) slower speeds or with current reducing fuel & aquatic disturbance, 
        b) strict recycling, single-use plastics reduction, & sewage treatment (AWTS), 
        c) innovative hull designs reducing drag & fuel consumption
        d) energy management systems

B. Energy Efficiency:  LED lighting, HVAC systems.

C. Local Engagement and Eco-Tourism:
    1. Local community's engagement:    conservation efforts, local supply sourcing.
    2. Certifications:    Green Globe-like adherence to sustainability practices.
    3. Corporate Transparency:   BEWARE of fraudulent Greenwashing.

D. Waste Management:  
    1. Advanced Wastewater Treatment Systems (AWTS): high standard sewage treatment
         cleaner than local systems before discharge.
    2. Zero Waste Initiatives: Some ships aim to recycle or repurpose close to 100% of their
         waste, reducing what ends up in the ocean or landfills.

E. Air Pollution Control:
    1. Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (EGCS) or Scrubbers: 
    2. Use Shore Power: so can shut down engines reducing emissions.
    3. Water Conservation: low-flow fixtures, recycling systems.
    4. Biodiversity & Marine Life Protection:
    5. Underwater Noise Reduction: to reduce impact on marine life (whales).
    6. Ballast Water Management: kill invasive species,
    7. Sustainable Shore Excursions: eco-focused, local sustainability, less tourist impact
          on delicate ecosystems.
    8. Corporate Responsibility & Transparency: forced accountability
    9. Innovative Tech: to solve festering issues

Subscribe!

Join my mailing list to get new content notifications.

* indicates required

Intuit Mailchimp