August 28, 2002
Wednesday - 12:14 pm

Juneau - The cruise ship industry has made significant progress in complying with state air emission standards but its record on wastewater treatment is still mixed, according to a mid-season report issued by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation today. The State of Alaska last year passed the first state law providing for inspection, monitoring, and oversight of cruise ships and setting standards for wastewater discharges.

"We're pleased to see a sharp decrease in the number of smoke violations and emissions complaints from the public this year as compared to last," said Commissioner Michele Brown. "The cruise companies have been attentive and inventive in achieving emissions improvements, attributable to the use of shoreside power, fuel additives, and increased use of gas turbine engines."

The wastewater treatment progress has been more mixed. "Seven ships have installed advanced wastewater treatment systems which meet all standards when operating properly.

Mid-Season Cruise Ship & Ferry Report 2002

These systems are costly and represent a serious commitment to prevent polluting our waters. We remain concerned, however, that ten large and three small vessels still opt to discharge wastewater outside state waters rather than improve treatment," Brown said. "Vessels that choose this course may not be treating wastes and do not provide the monitoring and verification required by the Alaska program."

As a result, Governor Tony Knowles has asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to take action to curb cruise ship wastewater discharges beyond Alaska's waters. "I ask the Environmental Protection Agency to take swift and firm action to control sewage and graywater discharges from cruise ships operating both inside and outside of Alaska waters," Knowles wrote in a letter last year.

Knowles specifically asked the EPA to prohibit wastewater discharges in U.S. waters unless the wastes have been processed through a properly operating and maintained sewage treatment system, to set strict treatment standards, and to require testing. "It's not acceptable to simply move sewage outside Alaska's borders," Knowles said. "Alaskans are concerned that the continuous discharge of wastewater with high levels of contamination may result in unintended impacts that could harm marine life."

The mid-season report summarizes the performance of large and small vessels, under the new state law, based on data collected through the first week of August. The new state program requires registration and fees, which finance the oversight effort. A final report is expected to come out after the end of the season.

Forty-four cruise ships registered this year: 25 large vessels, 14 small ones, and 5 ferries. Small vessels accommodate between 50 and 249 overnight passengers.

The following summarizes where cruise vessels are discharging their wastewater:

• Seven ships have installed advanced wastewater treatment to remove bacteria and solids. Six of these meet very stringent requirements that allow them to discharge at any time in Alaska waters. One vessel meets the standards set for discharging over one mile from shore while cruising at a minimum of six knots.
• Eight large ships hold their blackwater (sewage) for discharge outside state waters and discharge graywater over one mile from shore while cruising at a minimum of six knots. The law provided for a transition period to phase in graywater treatment. Next season, all vessels must treat graywater to the same level as blackwater before discharging in state waters.
• 10 large ships hold both black and gray water for discharge outside state waters.
• 19 small ships and ferries must test their wastewater but don't need to meet standards until January 2004 and can discharge black and graywater anywhere, anytime.

Carolyn Morehouse of DEC's Commercial Passenger Vessel Environmental Compliance program said that DEC has not received laboratory results on tests for other pollutants in the wastewater discharged in Alaska's waters.

DEC is investigating a discharge of foamy sludge August 17th from the Ryndam at a dock in Juneau. Sample test results are still pending. The Ryndam is one of five of Holland America's six Alaska-bound ships that use advanced wastewater treatment. Morehouse said that the discharge appears accidental, but DEC will be fully investigating since proper operation of a wastewater system is as important as having a quality system.

The report notes that DEC increased its smoke readings by five percent to include for the first time Southcentral Alaska ports of Seward, Valdez, Kodiak, Cordova and Whittier. Previous ambient air monitoring studies in Juneau, with the highest cruise ship traffic, showed levels well below regulatory standards.

A Science Advisory Panel of independent experts continues to help DEC assess the impact of wastewater discharges from cruise ships and ferries on human health and the Alaska environment. The panel's findings will be included in an assessment report on the impact of small commercial passenger vessels in Alaska, due out in December.

Source of News Release:

Alaska Dept. of Environmental Conservation (ADEC)
Web Site

 

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