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Friends Of The Earth Grades Cruise Lines, Some Flunk
Friends of the Earth is a global network of activists from 76 different countries that strive for a more healthy and just world. To make that happen, Friends of the Earth believe reforms are needed and are out to prove their point.
Evaluating cruise lines based on three environmental factors – sewage treatment, air pollution reduction and water quality compliance – Friends of the Earth has some interesting results to share in its 2012 Cruise Ship Report Card.
Presented to give travelers one piece of the information they need to decide which cruise ship or cruise line to sail, Friends of the Earth's Cruise Ship Report Card highlights environmental and human health impacts.
Scoring high in the areas of sewage Treatment, air pollution reduction and water quality compliance, Disney Cruise Line came away with top honors, an A-.
Cruise lines came under close scrutiny years ago, when caught dumping raw sewage into the ocean. To see how cruise lines are faring these days, Friends of the Earth asks, "Has the cruise line installed on its ships the most advanced sewage and waste water treatment systems available instead of dumping minimally treated sewage directly into the water?"
Friends of the Earth also compared the number of cruise ships in the cruise line that have installed advanced sewage treatment systems against the total number of ships in the cruise line.
Top three for sewage treatment:
Disney Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Lines
Celebrity Cruises
Bottom three for sewage treatment:
Carnival Cruise Lines
Silversea Cruises
Costa Cruises
Air Pollution Reduction
When it comes to air pollution reduction, Friends of the Earth is most concerned with if the cruise line has retrofitted its ships with "plug-in" technology giving the ships the ability to use cleaner shore-side power rather than running its diesel-burning engines.
This is such a big issue that in determining the air pollution Reduction grade, only ships that dock at ports with shore-side power hookups and could plug in were graded.
Top three for air pollution reduction:
Princess Cruises
Disney Cruise Line
Holland America Line
Bottom three for air pollution reduction:
Silversea Cruises
Costa Cruises
Crystal Cruises
Water Quality Compliance
Comparing to 2010 water pollution standards designed to protect the Alaskan coast, Friends of the Earth used the notices issued by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation for individual cruise ships.
Top three for water quality compliance:
Silversea Cruises
Norwegian Cruise Line
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Bottom two for water quality compliance:
Carnival Cruise Lines
Holland America Line
Friends of the Earth continues its ongoing mission to compare the footprints of 15 major cruise lines and 148 individual ships. See complete details of the Cruise Ship Report Card here and more on the topic in this video:
[Photo Credit- Flickr user NOAA's National Ocean Service]
Filed under: North America, United States, Budget Travel, Cruises
