California to Cruise Ships: Clean Up Your Act

California is once again leading the country in environmental protection regulations, instituting last week the world's most stringent requirements on oceangoing vessels. Starting next year, ships within 24 nautical miles of shore will be required to burn low-sulfur diesel fuel instead of the cheaper heavy fuel oil, often called bunker oil, that's become the industry standard. The ruling will apply to all big ships, from container ships and oil tankers to cruise ships, and may well take a bite out of the cruise companies' bottom lines, resulting in higher ticket prices for cruises from California ports.

But it gets me thinking. With all the hullabaloo about green travel, you don't hear too much about green cruising. Sure, cruise lines have made efforts to not dump so much trash and sewage into the ocean and whatnot, but when it comes to the total amount of CO2 and general crud a big ship must pump into the air from its massive engines, it quickly becomes a topic we'd rather not dwell on when we're on vacation. I mean, aren't these behemoths essentially floating Hummers?

Cruising aficionados will be quick to point out that shipping is one of the most efficient ways to move people and cargo, especially when compared to air travel, but that doesn't mean there's not room for improvement. The tacky side of me is excited to see engineering masterpieces like the Oasis of the Seas come to life, but it's hard not to think that the cruise industry would be the perfect place to try out big new ideas in alternative energy.

So how about it, Royal Caribbean? Give us the industry's first hybrid ship, something that charges its own batteries during stop-and-go ship traffic. Hey, Norwegian Cruise Line, how about adding some giant sails on your upper decks to take advantage of favorable breezes like ships did in the old days? You could even sell ads on them. Princess Cruises, you ply the waters of some of the sunniest locales on earth. A slew of solar panels would be a great way to take advantage of the energy that otherwise bounces off the ship's surfaces and the pink flesh of your passengers. Crystal Cruises, do you think you could install a windmill or two, if only to power the jets in the whirlpools? And can you cover the windmill blades with solar panels?

Okay, that last one might be a bit much, but a few bold forays in the right direction would be appreciated by the cruising public and the world at large. Cruising is about feeling good, and nothing feels better than making the planet a healthier place for future generations.

Related Stories:
· California Adopts Strict Pollution Rules for Ships [LA Times]
· How Green Can an Ocean Cruise Really Be? [G/Mag]
· Complete Cruise Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Princess Cruises]

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