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), China: China'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
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