Cruise ships stop discharging sewage water into the Baltic Sea
Lehtikuva/Tor WennströmEuropean Cruise Council ECC, an umbrella organisation representing the leading cruise companies operating in Europe has informed the public of its intention of discontinue discharging sewage water into the Baltic Sea in accordance with some conditions defined by the organisation. ECC’s ships will now dispose of their waste in harbours where the facilities for receiving sewage water is in its place and the sewage can be unloaded free of charge.
From the 20 harbours in the Baltic Sea region only Helsinki, Visby and Stockholm fulfil the requirements set by ECC. The sewage water tanks of an ordinary cruise ship fill up in 1-3 days. This means that many cruise ships discharge their waste water in the sea.
The World Wildlife Foundation, which has for a long time been fighting for the conservation of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea has expressed its approval of ECC:n new policy. Most of the visiting giant cruise ships in the Baltic Sea region are owned by cruise companies operating under the ECC.
- We are happy to know that the shipping companies have recognized the problem and have made a commitment to dispose of their sewage water at the harbours, says Anita Mäkinen, the Head of the Marine Programme at WWF.
- We will invite cruise companies to support us in putting pressure on harbours and their owners to construct sufficient and appropriate fixed sewage water reception systems, says Mäkinen.
ECC describes Helsinki harbour to be a model harbour, where the disposal of sewage water from cruise ships has been handled excellently.
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Picture: The well known Finnish cruise companies have already committed to not to discharging their waste water into Baltic Sea.
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