Linda R. inserted a heavy cruise ship schedule for Bonaire into one of the threads. This upset me because if you go to:

http://www.uaf.edu/seagrant/nosb/papers/2001/Gastineau-cruiseships.html#black
(it's about Alaska) However! The dilemma really concerns cruise ships everywhere...

Thus, my question - is the argument
(( cruise ships are, in fact, potentially dangerous to the marine ecosystem because of lack of regulation )) a solid position?

I've been studying this "recently" and am NO expert by any means. I am curious, where do cruise ships dump their waste and who truly regulates the industry world wide, operators of the cruise lines?

I "fear" that the more cruise ships that approach Bonaire - the more hazard there is to its ecosystem.

Does anyone have an opinion about cruise waste discharge and the industry's ability to violate standards without reprimand? ----- or is it just some environmentalist propaganda?

Just a question - wonder what BT'rs have to say -
Michelle

There are all sorts of issues about cruiseship waste including sewer and generic garbage. There are international laws that regulate if, when and where it can be dumped. But you are 100% correct that enforcement is a major issue. I don't see that the mandatory fines if caught are combating the issue. One of the big cruise lines was charged $50,000 fine for what seemed to be years of chronic open ocean dumping.

Many of the ships that dock out of the US are required to provide documentation (receipts/invoices) that they disposed of the waste in an approved safe manner. I have also heard that the cruise ship companies are forcing each island to accept their garbage/waste or they will stop coming to the island. Many islands including Bonaire do not have the necessary sewer treatment facilities to handle that kind of volume.

A note on the cruise schedule: That was the schedule for a whole year and includes many small ships like the WindJammers and the Freewinds. Bonaire has significantly less direct exposure to cruise ships than many Caribbean islands. Although any cruise ship even passing by to other destinations can be fouling the waters that flow to our shores.

A few years ago, we were told by a local that the QEII dumped waste in Bonaire, was caught by the Harbormaster and fined, and then was prohibited from leaving until the fine was paid (by putting those big ocean-going tugs up against her). The story was that the lawyers for the QEII tried to tell them that the check was in the mail, but the tugs stayed put until the money was in-hand.

Was this just a good story?

Hoping it's not too heartwarming to be true, Susan.

I've never heard that one before. I doubt it is true, since it never hit the papers here at least not in the last 7 years.