Cruise ship pollution

Falconhoof · November 21, 2006

30,000 gallons of human waste everyday - Cruise ship sewage, sometimes called blackwater, consists mostly of wastewater from toilets. Ships are permitted to dump raw sewage directly into the ocean once they are three miles out from shore.

15 gallons of toxic waste everyday - Cruise ships generate toxic wastes such as silver, mercury, lead and cadmium through dry cleaning, photo processing, print shops, painting activities and other sources. Cruise ship incinerators also produce dioxins and release mercury and other chemicals into the air. The waste should be returned to shore for appropriate disposal. However, some of these wastes go through sinks and other drains into graywater and are discharged without treatment.

7,000 gallons of oily bilge water everyday - Residual oil from routine engine maintenance mixes with bilge water and collects at the bottom of the vessel. When these chemicals are released, the components of the oil (even in very small amounts) can cause toxic effects on marine life.

Diesel exhaust emissions equivalent to thousands of automobiles EVERYDAY - Many ships burn low-grade diesel fuel that produces 50 times more pollutants than the dirtiest diesel trucks.

Not enough is being done to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems

cymrococh · November 21, 2006

This post is not viewable to guests.