The cruise industry and its environmental practices have caused much havoc and controversy over the past decade. Although the cruise ship industry is among the fastest developing and most noticeable segments of the travel industry, it has developed a negative image in people’s minds regarding when it comes to environment (Sweeting & Wayne 1). There are several significant challenges faced by the cruise industry that need to be solved as soon as possible. To begin with, cruise ships are mostly power-driven by diesel fuel. However, a mixture of gases that consists of “carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO)” (Sweeting & Wayne 7) are generated as a consequence. These released gases not only cause health problems but also harms the natural environment. Thus, air emissions are one of the most significant challenges that the cruise industry is facing nowadays.
The challenge of how to get rid of the wastewater is another important one. There are two types of wastewater i.e. graywater and blackwater that are generated by the cruise ships. The water that comes out of the cleaning activities on a ship is given the name of graywater and can have a mixture of substances including “detergents, oil and grease, and food waste” (Sweeting & Wayne 10). It has been estimated that more or less 1 million gallons of graywater are usually produced if a cruise sails for 7-10 days. Thus, graywater is the largest source of liquid waste that cruise ships generate. On the other hand, blackwater is wastewater that comes out of the toilets, urinals and infirmaries on a cruise. It has been estimated that a cruise ship normally generates about 8,000 to 21,000 gallons of blackwater everyday (Sweeting & Wayne 10). The marine environment is profoundly affected by the wasterwater discharges as it contains excessive nutrients. These additional nutrients can catalyze the phenomenon of eutrophication i.e. growth of marine plants and algae that can eventually affect the marine life. Serious human health problems are also caused by the bacteria contained in the wastewater (Sweeting & Wayne 11).
The challenge of removal of solid waste from cruise ships is an old one that has not been solved yet. Ships generate solid wastes including “glass, paper, cardboard, aluminum and steel cans, incinerator ash, plastics and kitchen grease” (Sweeting & Wayne 14). A passenger travelling on a cruise ship normally generates no less than one kilogram of solid waste per day. This solid waste can injure or kill marine animals. Also, oily bilge water is produced when the leakage of oil on a ship from engine and other parts mixes up with water in the bilge. Cruise ships discharge this untreated oily bilge water into the seawater and contribute to marine pollution (Sweeting & Wayne 16). This challenge is also one of those which are significant for the cruise industry to solve.
References
"Cruise: Travel, Transportation & Hospitality: Industries: TCS." Tata Consultancy Services: IT Services, Business Solutions, Outsourcing. TATA, n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2012.
Sweeting, J. E. N., and S. L. Wayne. "A SHIFTING TIDE ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES & CRUISE INDUSTRY RESPONSES." conservation.org. The Center for Environmental Leadership in Busin, n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2012.
