Keeping the Environment Pristine in Antarctica

Occasionally I am contacted by friends sharing concerns about the impact of large cruise ships on our environment.

It is always sad to learn of any intentional or unintentional dumping of waste in the oceans or on land.

Regardless of whether humans cruise or not, we all inevitably produce waste and must take care in its disposal.

Like you, I do my best to recycle and also use as few processed foods or one-time use, disposable items as possible.

By purchasing fresh vegetables, for example, I think you'd agree that we create less non-recyclable waste than if we ate processed or frozen foods in plastic bags.

You probably are already aware of this, but large cruise ships make almost all meals from scratch, thereby eliminating much food packaging that may accompany individual consumption. 

Taking a thousand households to sea for a week results, IMHO, in all of them creating less waste than the guests would have generated back home.



Many do not take nearly as much care as dedicated environmental crews on ships to limit impact on nature.  Perhaps you disagree with the net effect being less, but that's how I see it.

On another note, while in the Antarctic Zone cruising toward Elephant Island, an announcement from the Captain said that less than 750,000 humans have ever been to Antarctica, which is about 1/100 of a percent of the population of approximately 7,500,000,000 currently alive, much less the accumulated total lives throughout history.

For most of us, the miracle of seeing Antarctica would only be possible because of ocean cruising.

As I write this, it is the 200th anniversary of the first visit to Antarctica by any humans, a Russian expedition headed by Prussian Captain T.T. Bellinghausen. That sailing ship started in what is now modern-day Estonia.

The President of Estonia is currently aboard a large expedition yacht named Bellinghausen in Antarctica to commemorate that historic discovery on January 27, 1820.

Because so few ships are allowed into this pristine environment, additional care is taken, such as removing all one-time use products including napkins and paper cups from use while in the region. 

This prevents anything from accidentally blowing overboard should someone carelessly set down a cup or napkin that eventually drifts away in a brisk gust of wind.

Perhaps such precautions should be in place constantly on all cruise ships regardless of region, but hopefully we will all recognize our personal responsibility to leave the gorgeous natural areas we visit as litter-free as when we arrive.