Page 208 – Cruise Hive (2024)

Have you ever wondered what docruise shipsdo with sewage? If you have ever wanted to know, we have all of the answers. Read on for the truth!

When most people think of a cruise vacation, they immediately picture beautiful views of open water, relaxation, luxury, and exciting amenities. What is often ignored is how these massive vessels deal with the immense amount of sewage and waste produced during their lengthy voyages.

If you have ever wondered whatcruise shipsdo with sewage, we have all of the answers. We will explain how modern-daycruise shipshandle human waste and other forms of sewage while they are at sea and how these enormous ships deal with garbage and recycling. While it may not be the most glamorous topic, having a clean, odor-free experience is essential for cruisepassengersandcrewmembers alike.

If you are ready to learn, here is howcruise shipsensure that they handle sewage safely and responsibly!

What Types of Sewage DoCruise ShipsDeal With & What Do They Do With It All?

Before we dive into the ways thatcruise shipshandle and dispose of sewage, it is helpful to quickly explain the different types of waste generated during a voyage.

Non-HumanSolid Waste

While flushingtoilets, running taps, andshowerdrainsall result in significant amounts of human waste andwastewater, they are not the only forms of sewage that can build up while acruise shipis on the water.

Kitchen waste, specifically food scraps and unfinished beverages, can quickly become an issue on a lengthy cruise with a high number ofpassengersandcrewmembers. If not stored and dealt with properly, this type of waste can begin to biodegrade, resulting in unpleasant odors and even a buildup of flammable gases.

Even non-odoroussolid waste, like scrap paper and plastic, must be dealt with appropriately, or else the ship would quickly become overwhelmed with unsightly messes.

What DoCruise ShipsDo With This Type of Waste?

To overcome this issue, waste is segregated and dehydrated. Any form of waste that can be recycled, such as reusable plastics, glass containers, and metal cans, are all cleaned and stored, so they can be recycled and repurposed when the ship reaches land and the appropriate recycling facilities.

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Non-recyclable, organic waste is dehydrated, and then it is incinerated. This is the most environmentally-friendly way to deal with this waste while the ship is at sea. If the ship is in port, the waste can be collected by local waste management services.

For more information about howcruise shipsare now using advanced technologies to handle waste at sea, read up on how the Carnival Corporation is investing millions of dollars in food waste biodigesters.

Non-Human Liquid Waste

Wastewaternot linked to human waste is often calledgrey waterwithin the cruise industry. This water can come from washing dishes in the ship’s kitchens, the ship’slaundryfacilities, and water used by the cleaning staff to mop floors,sinks, and clean other surfaces. Since this water can contain non-biodegradable debris, chemical cleaning agents, and detergents, it cannot simply be released overboard.

What Is Done With This Type ofWastewater?

This type ofwastewateris usually filtered and treated onboard the ship because moderncruise shipshave sophisticated water treatment facilities. Settlement tanks, a range of filters, chemical treatments, and various water quality tests are performed on the so-called grey water, as this ensures that the water is free from all harmful contaminants.

Once fully treated, this type of non-sewagewastewatercan be discharged into some regions of theocean. While this may sound like it would be harmful towards the environment, the water must meet stringent regulatory standards beforedumpingcan begin. Essentially, the water must be completely clean and pose no serious risk to the health of local marine life and ecosystems.

Human Waste and Sewage

Given how manypassengersandcrewmembers travel on a large-scalecruise ship, it is incredibly important that they handle human waste correctly. Human waste can refer to water that results from flushingtoiletsand water collected by cabinshowersand other bathing facilities on the ship.

This particular type of waste is also known asblack water. Due to the health risks associated with it and the unpleasant odors that go with human waste, this form of sewage must be dealt with properly.

What Is Done With This Type ofWastewaterand Sewage?

All forms of human waste have to undergo an extremely rigorous treatment process within areas of the ship that are off-limits to allpassengers. In addition to heavy filtration, these modernsewage treatmentfacilities use chemical treatments and biological composting procedures.

Throughout the process, the treated and untreated sewage is stored in airtight holding tanks, which helps with odor control. These holding tanks are also incredibly durable, and they are regularly checked for leaks and weak spots, as maintaining their structural integrity is essential for the health and safety of all onboard the ship.

Once the sewage has been treated and is no longer a biological concern, clean and tested water can be released from the ship into designated bodies of water. Dehydratedsolid wasteis kept until the ship can dispose of it correctly on land.

Some of the largercruise shipsalso have incineration facilities that can deal with treatedsolid wasteat high temperatures, reducing its volume and completely sterilizing it.

If the ship is in port when the treated sewage is ready fordischarge, it is passed off to the local water treatment facilities to be processed even further.

What Types ofRegulationsGovern HowCruise ShipsDispose of Sewage?

To ensure that allcruise shipsadhere to propersewage treatmentand disposal procedures, it is essential that the industry is regulated.

To protect marine life and the environment, the entirecruise shipindustry has to follow the rules regarding sewage disposal.TheInternational Maritime Organization(IMO)is one of the most stringent regardingregulationsregarding howcruise shipshold and release sewage and other forms of waste.

Whencruise shipsare within waters belonging to a particular nation, they must also adhere to that country’s specific rules andregulationsregarding waste andsewage treatment. For example, if acruise shiptravels through American waters, thecruise shipmust adhere to rules set out by theUnited States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

While these national agencies can set different standards and rules, most are fairly clear on how sewage must be treated and how it must be disposed of and discharged.

In addition to strict treatment standards, these powerful organizations also dictate where waste can be released, even after it has been treated.

Most do not allowcruise shipstodischargewaste anywhere near the nation’s shores, so all waste must be treated, then delivered to local waste treatment systems. Naturally, this also comes with a significant fee, which can be rolled into fees paid to dock acruise shipin a local port.

Does the Cruise Industry Have its Own Rules?

Believe it or not, manycruise linesadd their own environmental standards for sewage disposal that go beyond what they are legally required to do.

Not only is this good for thecruise line’s public image, but coming up with more effective and energy-efficient treatment systems cuts down on waste and makes the entire ship more practical and sustainable.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What isblack wateron acruise ship?

Black wateris a term used to describe sewage. Typically, the term is explicitly used when describing human waste or water that has been in contact with some form of human waste.

Arecruise shipsallowed to release sewage anywhere?

No, there are setregulationsthat specify where acruise shipis allowed todischargesewage. Typically, sewage cannot be released within miles of a shoreline or at shallow water depths, as it can pose a greater risk to the marine ecosystem in the area. The sewage must also be treated before it is released into the water.

What is grey water?

Grey water is a termcruise shipsuse to describewastewaterthat has not come in contact with human waste or any other form of biologically hazardous material. This can include water that has passed through a sink,laundrymachine, or non-toiletdrain.

Is the treated sewage water safe to drink?

While this water is close to drinkable, it is unsafe to do so, as drinking water needs to be vigorously tested through a certified water treatment facility.

Havecruise shipsalways treated sewage water?

Sadly,cruise linesof the past did not treat water before releasing it into the sea orocean. Fortunately, changing attitudes and strictregulationshave improved howcruise shipsdeal withwastewaterand sewage.

Final Words

Howcruise shipstreat and dispose of sewage has come a long way.Cruise shipsnow use a complexsewage treatmentprocess that helps limit the environmental impact of carrying so much waste at sea.

Read Also: What Is on the Lowest Deck on a Ship?

Thanks to advanced technologies, high standards, and governmentregulations,cruise shipsdeal with sewage sustainably and professionally, protectingpassengers,crewmembers, and the waters thatcruise shipstravel through.