In January, the world’s largest cruise ship made its first ever journey, between Miami, in the US, and the Caribbean. The Icon of the Seas can hold almost 10,000 people – 7,600 guests and 2,350 crew members – and features more than 20 different places to eat, seven swimming pools, a mini-golf course, a rock-climbing wall and an ice skating rink. However, despite cruise ships being impressive in size, some people are concerned about the harm they are doing to the environment.
Smooth sailing?
Most cruise ships use diesel as fuel. Unfortunately, this can be very bad for the environment, releasing carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere as it burns. CO2 is a greenhouse gas, meaning it traps the Sun’s heat in Earth’s atmosphere and contributes to global warming (long-term rises in temperatures around the planet). Cruise ships also release sulfur oxides, which are chemicals that cause air pollution, in large quantities. These can cause health issues in humans as well as acid rain, which can harm the environment. A report last year said that in 2022, cruise ships in
Europe released more than four times more sulfur oxides than all the continent’s cars put together.
In addition, cruise ships create problems with water pollution by dumping their waste at sea. International regulations state that the ships must have facilities installed to treat sewage (waste such as poo), although untreated sewage can still be released into the ocean as long as it is a certain distance away from the shore and isn’t done all at once. This can harm marine life, as does the disturbance caused as these huge ships move through the water.
What’s more, some people argue that cruise ships can do damage on land as well as at sea. The towns and cities where passengers get off are often small and can become overwhelmed with the number of tourists. While some people spend money in local shops and restaurants, lots of passengers – having already paid for food on board – wait until they’re bac...
Smooth sailing?
Most cruise ships use diesel as fuel. Unfortunately, this can be very bad for the environment, releasing carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere as it burns. CO2 is a greenhouse gas, meaning it traps the Sun’s heat in Earth’s atmosphere and contributes to global warming (long-term rises in temperatures around the planet). Cruise ships also release sulfur oxides, which are chemicals that cause air pollution, in large quantities. These can cause health issues in humans as well as acid rain, which can harm the environment. A report last year said that in 2022, cruise ships in
Europe released more than four times more sulfur oxides than all the continent’s cars put together.
In addition, cruise ships create problems with water pollution by dumping their waste at sea. International regulations state that the ships must have facilities installed to treat sewage (waste such as poo), although untreated sewage can still be released into the ocean as long as it is a certain distance away from the shore and isn’t done all at once. This can harm marine life, as does the disturbance caused as these huge ships move through the water.
What’s more, some people argue that cruise ships can do damage on land as well as at sea. The towns and cities where passengers get off are often small and can become overwhelmed with the number of tourists. While some people spend money in local shops and restaurants, lots of passengers – having already paid for food on board – wait until they’re bac...
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The Week Junior Science+nature Uk (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue 72