(TAN): International environmental organization Friends of the Earth (FoE) has released its Cruise Ship Report Card of this year, documenting the environmental footprint of the cruise industry and major cruise lines have got an F grade by the watchdog group. The report highlights that cruising is by far the most environmentally harmful form of travel.
FoE had graded 18 cruise lines and their 193 ships. All Carnival Corporation cruise lines received F grades. Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line got D grades, and Disney Cruise Line topped the list with a B- grade.
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The cruise lines are graded on several parameters. One major criterion is the environmental damages caused by them. Grades are also given for Air Pollution Reduction, Water Quality Compliance, and Sewage Treatment. Over the last three years, Carnival Corporation has been on criminal probation in the US for illegally dumping oily waste into the ocean and then hiding facts regarding this.
As the cruise industry is gearing up to restart as early as October following closure due to the pandemic, the latest report has highlighted the fact that cruising remains the most harmful form of travel to the environment and human health. It also noted that many cruise lines remain unequipped to handle COVID-19 outbreaks onboard. Even before the coronavirus, over 130,000 cruise passengers caught the norovirus between 2008 and 2014, TravelDailyNews reported.
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“The cruise industry once again displayed its notorious negligence…” TravelDailyNews quoted said Marcie Keever, oceans and vessels programme director for Friends of the Earth, as saying. “As long as the cruise industry refuses to implement changes needed to protect its passengers, our environment, and local communities, the industry should not restart cruising.”
Cannot find a report card on American Cruise Line. Specifically concerned with sewage treatment & also transparency. Considering an Alaskan cruise in 2022.