In recent years, cruises have made significant strides to become more environmentally friendly. Commitment to the environment has been demonstrated through the recycling and separation of waste, which is common on all cruise ships.
The beginning of Powered by LNG and ships with hybrid power and coatings that reduce noise pollution to protect marine life have also become popular features.
However, this can be ineffective if the disposal of ship waste is not handled with the same responsibility as it is. Something that appeared in Cozumel this month.
Local Company Disposes of Cruise Ship Waste
As he said Riviera Mayaand Cozumel company, Ecología Industrial y Marina del Caribe (Ecomar), was fined for illegally dumping waste, including recyclables, from ships at landfills.
The company was found guilty of violations on May 16, and after a thorough investigation, Ecomar’s representative, Eduardo Puente García, received a fine on May 22.
Germán Yáñez Mendoza, Director of the Departamento de Ecología, led the investigation, which followed Ecomar’s route from a passenger ship to a landfill and finally to a deserted island on the island. The investigation was unable to identify the ship from which the debris originated.
The company was given a week to issue necessary permits for the waste removal operations. After failing to do so, Ecomar was fined and banned from using Cozumel’s facilities for marine waste disposal.
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It is important to emphasize that the shipping companies are not responsible for this incident, because the waste management companies must dispose of the waste properly.
It also seems unlikely that many cruise lines will want to use this company for their waste disposal services in the future. Over the past decade, many cruise lines have implemented stricter regulations governing every aspect of waste disposal.
Balancing Environmental Responsibility and Transportation
Cozumel is the busiest port in the world, behind ports like Miami, Port Canaveral, and Port Everglades. The island expects 1,152 cruise ships to carry more than 3.7 million tourists in the coming year.
Cozumel is an important port of call for many cruise lines, including Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, MSC Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise Line. While this increase in cruise passengers is good for the local economy, it also creates a lot of waste.
As the experience with Ecomar shows, proper management of these wastes is essential to the sustainability of the environment.
To ensure proper waste management, cruises have developed methods that are compatible with international standards, such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO 14001 in this case), which establishes guidelines for waste management, among other environmental issues.
Also read: What a Cruise Ship Engine Room Looks Like
By following these guidelines, cruise companies can identify and manage the environmental impact of their operations. The ISO standard not only focuses on the management of waste on board but also emphasizes the disposal of waste after it is taken from the ship.
The latest development by the travel industry in the promoting sustainability and environmental responsibility and known. However, it is clear that maintaining these standards should extend to all aspects of the project, including proper waste disposal. Only then can the company ensure a sustainable and reliable approach to its operations.
