Request to Conduct Research

HLM Cruise Lines has been under intense media scrutiny as of late due to our unethical practice of releasing untreated wastewater into the oceans. As the world's second largest cruise company, it should be our duty to protect the waters upon which we sail. Therefore, I would like to be released from my current duties in order to research alternative methods of managing the waste produced on our ships. At the conclusion of my research, a formal report will be provided to you.

Significance of this research

As the World becomes more environmentally conscious, there is a demand that the Cruise line industry be held responsible for the environmental damage that our vessels produce. This has caused the federal government to heighten its watch for violators. Gone are the days of lax federal and state laws; heavy fines and suspensions are now the norm. The cruise industry has paid more than $55 million in fines since 1998 (Friends of the Earth, 2009), which makes this research so important to our company.

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Problem Our Cruise ships generate hundreds of thousands of gallons of human sewage and offer a host of amenities that create pollutants, including dry-cleaning, pools, hair salons, restaurants, photo processing, and spas. In one week alone, our largest cruise ship, “The Mickey”, can generate approximately 1 million gallons of gray water; 210,000 gallons of sewage; 25,000 gallons of oily bilge water; 100 gallons of hazardous or toxic waste; and 50 tons of garbage and solid waste.

This sewage contains pollutants including fecal matter, bacteria, viruses, pathogens, hazardous waste and pharmaceuticals, all of which can be harmful to human health and aquatic life. (Kline, 2009). (Placeholder1)Our current practice of dumping this untreated waste directly into the ocean is wrecking havoc on the ecological systems of the waters we travel. Completed Research I have already researched the preventative methods used by other cruise lines.

For example, Celebrity Cruises’ flagship vessel, the Solstice, includes a water filtration system to return all black water and wastewater to near pristine conditions before it is dumped back into the ocean. Royal Caribbean recently invested $100 million into their fleet to convert their onboard wastewater treatment system to an advanced purification system (Underwood, 2010). These examples shows how far behind the power curve we are. Additional Information Researches into “greener” cruise ships have been going on for several years.

EPA believes that solution research might help improve understanding of the quantities of waste generated by cruise ships, impacts of discharges and emissions, and the potential for new control technologies. (U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2008)

Benefits of the Investigation

After having an opportunity to research for alternative methods of waste management, I am confident we will be able to implement methods that are significantly less harmful to the environment than our current process.

This would not only benefit the environment, but also boost our public image. We must prove that we are not only concerned about pollution, but also dedicated to preventing it. Conclusion Given the phenomenal growth in our industry and the potential for increasing impacts on the marine environment, I believe it is our duty to continue to look for new, more environmentally friendly ways to manage our ship’s waste. Making smart environmental choices can also be economical.

Remember, it is always cheaper and easier to clean up pollution at the source. After it has dispersed throughout the environment, the costs of cleanup, remediation, and disciplinary fees are many magnitudes higher.

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