Friends of the Earth is exposing and fighting pollution and exploitation of our ecosystems. Our Clean Vessels campaign is cleaning up the cruise industry, protecting marine sanctuaries, and reducing air pollution from ocean-going vessels. The environment is for everyone, and a healthy and just world requires clean air and water.
Read the latest news and updates from our Air and Water campaigns:
Members of the Friends of the Earth and Friends of the Earth International delegations let out a collective sigh of relief this afternoon when the IMO approved a major amendment to MARPOL Annex VI, an international agreement governing air pollution from ships. On a day that was filled with plenary sessions, working groups, and presentations, the IMO finally took a step towards cleaning up the historically under-regulated shipping industry by approving the Annex VI revisions. Friends of the Earth and Friends of the Earth International have been fighting for years to push the IMO to regulate the ever expanding shipping industry and its deadly air pollution emissions. The IMO finally realized that it had to take steps to govern ship air emissions as a means of potentially forestalling a patchwork of individual regulations developed by countries and states severely polluted by the shipping industry. The Annex VI approval is a long-postponed wake up call for the shipping industry which has historically fought any attempts to regulate it.
Clean Vessels Program Manager, John Kaltenstein went to London, England in early October to attend the 58th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). At this IMO meeting, member states finalized and approved revisions to an international agreement governing air pollution from ships and discussing how to effectively regulate greenhouse gas emissions from ships.
Question: How can you reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save whales at the same time? Answer: By reducing ship speed! The North Atlantic right whale is one of the most endangered mammal species on the planet whose numbers hover dangerously around 300. One of the greatest threats to these majestic whales is being struck by a vessel, which can result in severe injury or death. Slowing vessels can significantly reduce the risk of whale strikes.
Reducing vessel speed represents one important way in which ships can limit air pollutants including greenhouse gases. A 10% decrease in fleet speed can translate into more than a 20% reduction in emissions. In California, the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles have incentive-based vessel speed programs that have proven successful, with participation rates of over 90%.
After a great amount of effort by Friends of the Earth and partners including air quality control districts, the U.S. Congress finally passed legislation last month to implement an international oceans convention to reduce harmful global air pollution, which was then signed into law by the President.
Friends of the Earth's Clean Vessels campaign works to clean up air emissions from large vessels, including cruise ships, which pollute our skies, threaten human health and cause global warming.
We have great news to share! Just last week, Congressman Sam Farr (D-CA) introduced the Clean Cruise Ship Act of 2008 (H.R. 6434), a bill that would finally put an end to the dumping of sewage and other pollutants by cruise ships within 12 miles of our coastlines. In a single week, one large cruise ship can dump over 200,000 gallons of raw human sewage and one million gallons of graywater (polluted water from sinks, kitchens, and laundries) into our coastal waters. These polluted discharges contain bacteria and other harmful pollutants which can cause beach closings, contaminate shellfish beds, and harm sensitive marine life such as coral reefs.
Welcome to Ship Shape, a new series featuring our Clean Vessels Campaign! Friends of the Earth's Clean Vessels Campaign is working to fight pollution from ocean going vessels such as cargo ships and cruise ships. Ocean going vessels discharge enormous amounts of pollution -- from particulate matter, to greenhouse gas pollution, to raw sewage and oil spills. Ships also harm marine mammals directly through routine collisions with whales and other creatures.
WITH THE ARRIVAL OF SUMMER, many people look forward to time away from school, work, and the responsibilities of everyday life. As a vacation choice, cruises have grown increasingly popular over the past two decades, making the industry one of the world’s fastest growing tourism sectors. Last year more than 9 million passengers took cruises on the seventeen largest cruise lines.
Cruise ships offer passengers the chance to visit new and exciting destinations and view pristine coastal habitats and marine and animal life with little effort. When not in port or on deck watching the passing scenery, passengers can while away the hours engaged in any number of activities, including swimming and mini-golf or they can refuel with food after an afternoon of fun. An average ship has multiple dining rooms serving a plethora of cuisines, sometimes lavishly adorned with fruit carved into flowers and accompanied by elaborate deserts and ice sculptures. Food is available on a cruise ship 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It’s been estimated that a large cruise ship goes through 12,000 pounds of beef, 7,500 pounds of seafood, 10,000 pounds of fresh fruit, 48,000 eggs, and 500 gallons of ice cream per week.
