Roundtable on Cruise Ship Pollution to be Held in January

A roundtable discussion will be held on January 21 at the Hilton Hotel at Harbor Island, in San Diego, Calif. The discussion, sponsored by Pacific States/British Columbia Oil Spill Task Force, will focus on preventing pollution from cruise ships. Marine oil spills have largely been associated with oil tankers and cargo ships, yet oil and waste discharges from passenger cruise ships can be just as damaging to ecosystems and deadly to wildlife. Cruise liners can release not only petroleum products, but sewage, plastic, toxic chemicals, and “graywater” into marine environments. This discussion will bring together representatives from government regulatory agencies, environmental organizations, and the cruise ship industry. It is expected that a free exchange of ideas and perspectives will improve our ability to find solutions to existing problems and prevent future pollution incidents.