A recent report gives the majority of cruise ships anchoring in Maine ports a failing environmental grade.

The Cruise Ship Report Card from Friends of the Earth finds companies, including Carnival and Princess Cruises, release significant amounts of toxic wastewater and air pollution while docked in cities such as Portland and Bar Harbor.

Report author and the group’s Oceans and Vessels Program Director, Marcie Keever, said newer ships may run on liquefied natural gas, but are still adding to the industry’s climate footprint.

“You’re driving your hotel around on the ocean,” said Keever. “It’s going to use a ton of fuel and generate a significant amount of CO2 emissions.”

The cruise ship industry maintains it is highly regulated and has taken steps to install advanced water- and air-pollution controls.

But Keever said despite hundreds of industry violations, the EPA has done little to enforce protections for coastal communities.

Corporate transparency played a large role in the cruise ship ratings. Companies that fully disclose their environmental and sustainability practices fared better than those that do not.

The Norwegian-based Hurtigruten, which is developing the first zero-emission cruise ship, won top marks for its openness and environmental efforts.

Keever said the report card can help consumers decide if a cruise is the right kind of vacation for them.

“If the environment and climate are important to you, really take a look and make a decision based on that,” said Keever, “instead of just what the industry is putting out as this sort of shine on their industry.”

Keever said cruise companies will continue to violate environmental laws without independent observers on-board to ensure water and air quality standards.

The last remaining on-board observation program, the Ocean Rangers out of Alaska, was defunded in 2019.

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