Do Cruise Ships Dump Their Trash At Sea?

Cruise ships are legally allowed to dump waste into the ocean, but each ship must follow specific regulatory requirements. The EPA states that cruise ships are not legally allowed to dump trash in the oceans, and garbage should be separated as effectively as possible. Some cruise lines have begun recycling their plastic, cardboard, and glass waste.

Water on board is a highly valued asset, and it is separated into gray water from showers and sinks. Modern-day cruise ships handle human waste, food waste, plastic waste, and other forms of garbage while at sea. Solid waste on board ships encompasses a wide range of materials generated by cruise ships. U.S. law requires cruise ships to treat waste within about 3.5 miles of shore, but beyond that, they can dump treated sewage anywhere in the ocean.

Carnival Cruise Lines was found dumping food mixed with plastic waste into the waters of the Bahamas. While it is illegal under U.S. and international maritime law, many companies have proven they don’t care and have been caught illegally spewing plastic into the sea. Cruise ships also pollute the ocean by dumping harmful fuel waste.

The dumping of waste at sea is controlled by the six annexes of the MARPOL convention, which most nations are signatories. Cruise ships do dispose of waste into the ocean, but each ship must follow specific regulatory requirements when disposing of waste. Some waste streams appear to be well-regulated, such as solid wastes (garbage and plastics) and bilge water. However, there is overlap of some areas, and cruise lines go to great lengths to separate food scraps from other waste like straws or plastic wrappers.

Does Royal Caribbean drain their pools?

Yes, all Royal Caribbean ships have a procedure in place to ensure that the swimming pools are drained, cleaned and sanitized.

Swim vests are located on the pool deck. Lifeguards and Pool Attendants can assist all guests to the nearest location.

How wasteful are cruise ships?

To the cruise ship industry, a key issue is demonstrating to the public that cruising is safe and healthy for passengers and the tourist communities that are visited by their ships. Cruise ships carrying several thousand passengers and crew have been compared to “floating cities,” in part because the volume of wastes produced and requiring disposal is greater than that of many small cities on land. During a typical one-week voyage, a large cruise ship (with 3,000 passengers and crew) is estimated to generate 210,000 US gallons (790,000L) of sewage; 1million US gallons (3,800m3) of graywater (wastewater from sinks, showers, and laundries); more than 130 US gallons (490L) of hazardous wastes; 8 tons of solid waste; and 25,000 US gallons (95m3) of oily bilge water. Passengers can singlehandedly produce up to 7.7 pounds of waste in a single day aboard a cruise ship. Those wastes, if not properly treated and disposed of, can pose risks to human health, welfare, and the environment. Environmental advocates have raised concerns about the adequacy of existing laws for managing these wastes, and suggest that enforcement of existing laws is weak.(citation needed)

A 2000 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report focused attention on problems of cruise vessel compliance with environmental requirements. GAO found that between 1993 and 1998, foreign-flag cruise ships were involved in 87 confirmed illegal discharge cases in U.S. waters. A few of the cases included multiple illegal discharge incidents occurring over the six-year period. GAO reviewed three major waste streams (solids, hazardous chemicals, and oily bilge water) and concluded that 83% of the cases involved discharges of oil or oil-based products, the volumes of which ranged from a few drops to hundreds of gallons. The balance of the cases involved discharges of plastic or garbage. GAO judged that 72% of the illegal discharges were accidental, 15% were intentional, and 13% could not be determined. The 87 cruise ship cases represented 4% of the 2,400 illegal discharge cases by foreign-flag ships (including tankers, cargo ships and other commercial vessels, as well as cruise ships) confirmed during the six years studied by GAO. Although cruise ships operating in U.S. waters have been involved in a relatively small number of pollution cases, GAO said, several have been widely publicized and have led to criminal prosecutions and multimillion-dollar fines.(citation needed)

In 2000, a coalition of 53 environmental advocacy groups petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take regulatory action to address pollution by cruise ships. The petition was amended in 2000 to request that EPA also examine air pollution from cruise ships. The petition called for an investigation of wastewater, oil, and solid waste discharges from cruise ships. In response, EPA agreed to study cruise ship discharges and waste management approaches. As part of that effort, EPA issued a background document in 2000 with preliminary information and recommendations for further assessment through data collection and public information hearings. The agency released its final Cruise Ship Discharge Assessment Report in 2009. The report summarized findings of recent data collection activities, especially from cruise ships operating in Alaskan waters.

What happens to human waste on a cruise?

What do cruise ships do with their trash and sewage? They incinerate or compress the trash and offload it at the next port of call. At one time they just dumped it overboard, but they don’t do that any more. If they are over three miles from shore they may dump raw or semi-processed sewage into the ocean.

Where do cruise ships dump food waste?

For solid foods that are harder to break down, such as bones, animal fats, and skin from fruits and vegetables, Carnival Corporation recently added dehydrators—there are more than 60 in the Carnival fleet of over 85 ships. The dehydrators use heat to remove excess water from leftover food, producing a mostly dry mass that looks like coffee grounds, which can be easily offloaded on shore. Carnival Corporation says the dehydrators can reduce the amount of food waste offloaded by up to 90 percent. While the odorless grounds are currently sent to landfills, there are plans to see if they might be repurposed by other companies, perhaps burned as a sustainable energy source or used as a fertilizer.

A sign indicating what can and can’t be processed by the biodigester.

The results. With the food waste management technology and other measures, Carnival Corporation says it has accomplished a more than 40 percent reduction in food waste per person, relative to a 2019 baseline, and is already ahead of its 2025 goals. The company is targeting a 50 percent reduction per person, relative to the 2019 baseline, by 2030.

Do cruise ships have jails?

…and a jail. There are no police officers on cruise ships, but most vessels have small jails known as the brig, and unruly passengers could find themselves locked up if the ship’s security team determines that they have violated the cruise line’s code of conduct.

The brig, usually a bare-bones room with a bed and bathroom facilities, does not have iron bars like a traditional jail cell. It is used to detain guests who commit serious crimes like assault or possession of illegal substances. Drunk and disorderly passengers may be put under “cabin arrest,” meaning they cannot leave their cabin without a security escort.

Depending on the circumstances, most passengers put in the brig will stay there until they can be handed over to law enforcement officials.

Are cruises the worst for the environment?

A daily cruise trip averages 700-1000 pounds of carbon emissions, much higher than flying, driving, or a traditional ‘land’ vacation. Additionally, the sulphur dioxide emissions from a single cruise ship can equal the emissions from 13.1 million cars per day, exacerbating air pollution and acid rain.

Data shows that large cruise ships can burn up to 250 tons of fuel daily, producing substantial CO2 emissions. Primarily, bunker fuel, the dirtiest fuel, exacerbates the environmental damage, emitting considerable amounts of black carbon, sulfates, and other harmful chemicals​.

When considering the impact per usage, vacationers generate eight times more carbon on a cruise ship than on land. A week-long journey on a cruise ship for one passenger can result in over 200 kilograms of CO2 emissions, significantly higher than many other forms of travel.

Is Royal Caribbean bad for the environment?

For decades the cruise industry has been criticized for its negative impact on the environment. A 2021 study published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin found that despite technical advances, cruising remains a major source of air, water and land pollution affecting fragile habitats and human health.

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What happens to uneaten food on cruise ships?

The truth is…. Once the food has been cooked, no matter whether it hasn’t been touched, it must be disposed of. The easiest way for ships to do this is to liquefy the leftover food in an industrial grinder. The food is blended with water until it’s a smooth mixture and then either disposed of in port, incinerated, or pumped out to sea when the ship is deep water and away from the coastlines. Simple as that.

The biggest waste comes from those passengers who order large meals or pick one of everything from the buffet and don’t finish their plate.

But not as much food will go to waste as you think. Cruise ships are highly experienced at working out how much food is required according to the length of cruise and number of passengers. It is highly calculated and in no way random. After all, every piece of waste food is money down the drain.

What does Royal Caribbean do with food waste?

FOOD WASTE PULPERS: We carefully source our food and track onboard inventory. Food waste produced on board is sent to a pulper and pulverized to less than 25 mm, as per international standards, and discharged no closer than 12 nautical miles from land.

Are cruise ships still dumping waste in the ocean?

And has a goal to build ships that don’t discharge into the ocean at all by 2050.. So yes cruise ships do dump some waste into the ocean. But the process is regulated by international authorities.

Where does a cruise ship’s sewage go?

First it is skimmed, to remove the larger obstructions. It is then sent to an oxygen rich bacteria tank, where the bacteria speeds up the decomposition of the sewage, to break it down quickly.

Following the bacteria treatment, the water is sent to a settlement tank, allowing any remaining heavy items to settle at the bottom. Here the lighter, cleaner water is syphoned off to be sterilised, often using systems such as UV treatment, or chlorine.

Once sterilised, the water is sent to another storage tank before being discharged when the ship is in an area outside of restricted zones, as defined by MARPOL and local regulations.