LR: Cruise Cares for the Environment

"Cruise industry environmental issues are often a target for negative comment. Yet over recent years, many cruise owners have proactively taken positive steps to help reduce pollution to minimal levels," said Jack Polderman, senior vice president, marine, of Lloyd's Register Americas Inc. "Many new systems have been implemented to greatly enhance the environmental protection capability of cruise vessels to, in many cases, well in excess of recognised international regulations," said Polderman. Keen to demonstrate their commitment to the environment, Celebrity led the way last year as the first operator to comply with Lloyd's Register's voluntary Environmental Protection Rules and more have since followed. Other cruise environmental projects include the fitting of additional systems such as the ballast water treatment system installed on Regal Princess of Princess Cruises in March 2000. Operators cruising in Alaska have worked hard to make their ships as environmentally friendly as possible. Polderman continued: "Alaska has a very long coast line with a unique plant and animal presence; it has enormous glaciers, pacific rainforests, whales, sea otters, seals and large quantities of fish, including seasonal salmon. People in Alaska love nature and, of course, want to preserve it. And so do the cruise lines - they have great respect for the environment and work hard to protect it." Polderman summed up: "The work so far is impressive, and is a definite improvement on the previous standards of some five or so years ago, but there is still more to do. It makes business sense for the cruise industry to support initiatives that help to protect the environment and we are working with them to help them meet their goals to ensure a better tomorrow."