“Across our fleet, we have implemented many of the most innovative environmental policies and technologies in the cruise industry,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian’s chief executive officer.
Like other major lines, Norwegian has committed to the protection of the oceans through sustainable environmental practices, investments in technology and a commitment to exceed regulatory requirements. Improvements in the way they handle solid waste, black and gray waste water and used cooking oil add to an ongoing program that has taught 473.000 children and youth passengers (2-17) to become better stewards of the environment through the “Officer Snook” education program.
The United States Coast Guard recently awarded Norwegian the 2010 Gold William M. Benkert Marine Environmental Protection Award which recognizes outstanding achievements in marine environmental protection.
Other lines too are making an impact too. Princess Cruises, the company that pioneered the use of shore power to reduce air emissions, was recently honored by the Port of San Francisco with its annual Cruise Ship Environmental Award.
“We’re gratified that our environmental efforts are being recognized in San Francisco again, especially since we’ve been able to utilize our shore power technology at the port’s new facility,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. “We’re committed to doing our part to help ensure that pristine and beautiful ports like San Francisco stay that way.”
Those efforts at sea on ships are mirrored on land by ports too, doubling the focus on being good stewards of the environment.
The Port of San Diego‘s new $28 million Port Pavilion is providing green shore-side power to cruise ships. Not very many of them since most lines redeployed their floating assets to more profitable waters but a few. The new facility serves as an auxiliary terminal to the Port’s main B Street Cruise Ship Terminal and is also available for public events when cruise ships are not in port.
Not long ago, Princess Cruises Island Princess plugged in at the Port of San Francisco to a system that was built as a cooperative effort by the Port of San Francisco, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the Environmental Protection Agency, Holland America Line and Princess.
The Port of Los Angeles went a step further completing it’s World Cruise Center solar rooftop project. Estimated to produce 1.2 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually, the $10.8 million project will also result in an estimated $200,000 in energy cost savings.
Cruise lines, once burdened with a bad reputation for dumping waste at sea and polluting the oceans, have moved well past that and now often exceed even stricter government regulations, a good sign that they are in it for the long-run.
Chris Owen is a travel writer from Orlando Florida charged with sharing frank, inside information on cruise vacations with travelers. Certified a Master Cruise Counselor by the Cruise Lines International Association, Chris can be found via the popular travel blog, ChrisCruises.net and on the long-running cruise information website, YourCruiseDream.com.
Photo Credit: NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center via Compfight
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