Do Cruise Ships Throw Garbage Overboard?

Cruise ships, with their thousands of passengers and a substantial crew, produce enormous amounts of waste, including sewage, solid waste, and ballast water. Under section 312 of the Clean Water Act, the EPA and USCG regulate cruise ship discharges, including these materials. Cruise ships have well-developed methods for disposing of their waste, such as collection and offloading, which are considered Cruise Line Environmental Credentials.

Dumping of garbage into the ocean is strictly prohibited by international maritime laws and can result in significant fines for cruise lines. In the open Caribbean Sea, cruise ships are dumping ground-up glass, rags, and cardboard packaging. However, vessels in other waters like the Baltic and North Seas are prohibited from throwing any solid waste overboard other than food scraps. Biodegradable waste is legal and safe to dump out at sea, but only a minimum safe distance from shore before dumping is allowed.

Dumping of garbage into the ocean is strictly prohibited by international maritime laws and can result in significant fines for cruise lines. Each ship must follow specific regulatory requirements when disposing of waste, and it is illegal to dump garbage overboard. Regulations readily available under MARPOL for the discharge of food waste, sewage, and solid waste are available for cruise ships.

In conclusion, cruise ships have a significant impact on the environment, and they should take all necessary actions to preserve the environments in which they operate.

Do cruise ships dump waste at sea?

Can cruise ships dump waste at sea?. Yes. It’s quite legal to dump sewage and food waste into the sea. U.S. law requires cruise ships to treat waste within about 3.5 miles of shore—but beyond that, there are no restrictions on dumping polluted sewage and graywater. Researchers have estimated that over a billion gallons of sludge made from excrement and food scraps are released into the ocean every year by cruise lines.

Help power change. It takes support from environmental champions like you to build a more healthy and just world. Donate now!

The sewage is not just human waste, but also contains chemicals, pharmaceuticals, bacteria, viruses, and heavy metals that are not naturally present in the ocean. Cruise ships don’t have the resources or the facilities to filter out many of these toxic substances. They end up in the habitats of many coastal animals from otters to dolphins to whales, leading to reproductive problems, illness and population decline.

How do cruise ships get rid of garbage?

If you guessed a large portion of it ends up in the oceans, you’d be correct. Sadly, U.S. laws do not do enough to protect our bodies of water. It allows cruise ships to dump waste into the ocean as long as the ships are more than three and a half miles offshore. That means that dirty water from sinks and showers and laundry facilities are discharged into the water. It means that waste from toilets is discharged into the water. And it also means that food waste is also dumped into the ocean.

Guess who doesn’t have a say in the matter? The oceanic wildlife that call the oceans their home.

Commonly Asked Questions about Cruise Ship Waste. We’ve put together some of the most frequently asked questions about cruise ship waste to help illustrate the pollution these floating cities cause.

How easy is it to fall overboard on a cruise ship?

A word from Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)

It is extremely rare for someone to go overboard. Although many characterise man-overboard situations as “falls”, the very nature of the safety elements in place makes accidental falls virtually impossible. Unfortunately, the vast majority of cases involve reckless behaviour or some form of intentional act. People don’t just inadvertently fall over the side of a ship.

A cruise holiday is one of the safest forms of travel, and the safety of passengers and crew is the top priority of cruise lines. Every aspect of cruising is heavily regulated and monitored under international maritime law, as well as local jurisdictions.

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.

Does human trafficking happen on cruise ships?

While hotels and motels can be especially attractive locations for all forms of human trafficking, it is also important to note that human trafficking occurs at sporting events, theme parks, on cruise ships, and in many other areas of the tourism industry.

Do people get thrown overboard on cruises?

The chances of you falling overboard off a cruise ship are extremely low. But at least 10 people fell off major cruise line ships so far this year, turning fun-in-the-sun vacations into disaster situations — and only two survived the fall into the ocean.

But at least 10 people fell off major cruise line ships so far this year, turning fun-in-the-sun vacations into disaster situations — and only two survived the fall into the ocean.

The family of 35-year-old Australian cruise passenger Warwick Tollemache told Nine News he was a “kind, beautiful, and gentle soul who was adored by everyone who knew him.”

Tollemache fell into the Pacific Ocean after going overboard off Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas on April 26 at about 11 p.m. while the cruise ship was hundreds of miles off the coast of Hawaii.

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 happens to human waste on a cruise ship?

Do cruise ships release human waste into the ocean?. Cruise ships are only permitted to release human wastewater that has been heavily treated. Solid waste is also treated and dehydrated but not released into any open body of water. Instead, it is disposed of through standard, onshore waste disposal methods once the cruise ship is in port.

Which chemicals do cruise ships use to treat human waste?. In addition to heavy filtration processes and settlement chambers, cruise ships use chlorine and a specialized combination of aerobic bacteria to break down and treat human waste.

Do you use previously treated wastewater when you are on a cruise ship?. No, none of the water that flows from the taps in your cabin is previously treated sewage wastewater. When you turn on your faucets or flush your toilet waste, you will always receive fresh water.

How many people fall overboard on cruises every year?

Roughly between 20 and 30 passengers and crew go overboard in a year out of the millions that go on a cruise. Apart from crew that can occasionally have an accident and fall when working on life boats, painting or whatever (yes they normally have life lines) most occurrences fall under one of three things.

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.

Will a cruise ship stop if someone falls overboard?

As soon as an incident happens, cruise ship crew will activate a button that pinpoints the place where the person went into the water. The ship will then stop and turn back to that area. The ship and its crew will perform a lengthy search and rescue operation, lasting several hours. The captain will notify other ships in the area, which are obligated to help, as well as the closest local maritime authority.

Perhaps you’ve seen news stories of “Carnival Cruise ship man overboard.” When a passenger fell from Carnival Dream in October 2019, the ship was 47 miles from Galveston. The ship was aided in the search by several cargo ships and the Coast Guard, which released Dream from the search overnight at which point it continued to its port stop in Cozumel.

Not all man overboard situations happen at sea. In January 2020, a passenger on Oasis of the Seas went overboard while it was docked in San Juan. Local authorities and the Coast Guard created a 300-yard safety zone around the area while a search and rescue operation took place.

Do sharks follow cruise ships?

Conclusion. In conclusion, the myth of sharks following cruise ships is just that – a myth. These magnificent creatures do not actively pursue cruise ships, and their behavior is not influenced by the presence of such vessels. Sharks have their own natural instincts, migration patterns, and ecological needs that guide their actions.

However, it is important to remember that while sharks may not follow cruise ships, they are crucial to the health of our oceans and deserve our respect and protection. By promoting shark conservation and supporting initiatives that work towards preserving marine ecosystems, we can ensure a sustainable future for these incredible creatures.