This post is written for the “Save the Ocean” group-writing project.

I have never been on a cruise ship before but I’ve heard a lot about it. And I’ve also read that they serve very good food and all :D In fact, one of my aunts actually invited me to go on a cruise with her in December, but I couldn’t make it due to my other commitments.

Image credit: Marc Wellekotter.

Now, if you don’t know, a typical 3,000-passenger cruise ship on a one-week voyage generates 4,546,090 liters of “gray water” (from sinks, showers and laundries), more than 1,363,827 liters of sewage, 113,652 liters of oily bilge water, more than 454 liters of hazardous waste (from dry cleaning, photo processing and other chemical activities), 50 tonnes of garbage (plastics, papers, cardboards, food and glass) and as much diesel exhaust as several thousand cars!

As passengers, you would often believe that wastes from the ship is treated or stored for land removal, but in fact, most of it is dumped at sea, and sometimes illegally too. One of the worst impacts of cruise ships may be their discharge of nutrient-rich sewage around coral reefs. This sewage disposal encourages the growth of algae on corals, which in turn smother and kill them.

Here’s how to be a responsible cruise passenger:

• Investigate the cruise line to ensure that its ships do not have a record of pollution. Let your booking agent know that this is a priority of yours.
• Document any dumping that you observe while on a cruise by taking pictures or video footage.
• Talk to your friends, neighbours, and fellow passengers about how cruise ships can be cleaner and greener.

January 2008 is “Save the Ocean” month here at The Giving Hands. Click here for more information on how you too, can save our oceans, and remember to subscribe to The Giving Hands for your daily updates!