Cruise lines, GVHA work to reduce emissions

In 2015, Victoria welcomed 227 ship calls bringing more than 533,000 passengers and 206,000 crew to the region — a record year. Overall passenger count was up 15 per cent from 2014 and the overall economic impact to Greater Victoria is close to $100 million annually.

Another cruise-related reason made 2015 a record year — the best overall air-quality readings over a full cruise season since monitoring began in 2009.

In fact, during 2015, there was not a single recorded exceedance of any known local, national or international air-emission standard related to cruise ships as measured by the B.C. Ministry of Environment’s air monitoring station at James Bay.

The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority has partnered with the Environment Ministry, Island Health and the James Bay Neighborhood Association since 2011 to provide air-quality monitoring for sulphur dioxide in the James Bay area. Over this period, the GVHA has provided more than $63,000 to maintain the air monitoring station.

In 2015, no 24-hour period exceeded Island Health, Capital Regional District, B.C., Canada or World Health Organization 24-hour average guidelines and no one-hour period exceeded the B.C., California, Canada, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or European Union one-hour average guidelines.

There is further good news. On Jan. 1, new international maritime regulations for ships operating within the UN’s North American Emission Control Area came into effect, which legally requires further reductions of ship emissions. These regulations state that all ships operating in the North American Emission Control Area must use diesel fuel that has a 0.1 per cent sulphur limit.

Some cruise lines have been granted exemptions by the flag state of the ship (in negotiation with U.S. and Canada) by committing to the installation of scrubbers (exhaust-gas cleaning technology) that will reduce emissions beyond those achievable with the use of diesel fuel that has a 0.1 per cent sulphur limit.

With the introduction of scrubber technology, Greater Victoria has also economically benefited, as cruise lines have chosen the Esquimalt Graving Docks to drydock ships and have scrubbers installed, along with other major work.

In May, the Crown Princess was in drydock to have scrubbers installed and in December, the Ruby Princess is scheduled to have major work done, including the installation of scrubbers. Both of these ships make Victoria a port of call during the cruise season.

B.C.’s wild coast is a key reason why the cruise lines choose to sail in our waters and visit Victoria. None take our pristine environment for granted and they have introduced several measures to reduce their footprint.

In addition to reducing air emissions, cruise lines have taken steps to improve their wastemanagement technology and energy-efficiency. Over the last decade, the cruise lines have invested more than $1 billion in technologies that reduce their environmental footprint in the harbours and ports that welcome them. The GVHA will continue to work with them to ensure we protect our environment and increase the positive social and economic impacts the cruise industry brings to Victoria. Ian Robertson is CEO of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority.