NCL's Environmental Commitment

Environmental protection is among NCL Corporation's ("NCL") highest priorities. The protection of the oceans on which NCL makes its living is of paramount importance to the company. NCL has invested heavily not just on new environmental protection technology but also on a shore side department devoted to environmental protection and has placed trained environmental officers onboard every NCL ship. NCL has also undertaken environmental training for all of crew members.

 

NCL's environmental policies and technologies onboard its ships are among the most stringent in the industry and exceed existing laws and international conventions.

 

The company meets or exceeds all international, US, state and local port regulations such as the international MARPOL regulations, United States Coast Guard (USCG) and United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). MARPOL is the international framework of environmental regulation for ships as found in the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships.
All NCL crew receive training on environmental procedures prior to assuming shipboard duties as well as specialized environmental training appropriate to their individual job and responsibility. Each NCL ship has a designated environmental officer onboard at all times to oversee environmental training and compliance.

 

NCL ships are fitted with incinerators that burn oil, paper, cardboard, some plastics, and on some ships, bio sludge and dried food waste. What cannot be burned, or where incineration is not permitted, solid wastes including other plastics, aluminum, glass, wood and other material, is brought ashore for recycling or disposal by licensed disposal companies. Recently, several ships also gained the capability to dry, sterilize, and off-load inert sewage for recycling where it is feasible.

 

Food waste is disposed of according to the MARPOL and USCG regulations. Food waste is not considered damaging to the environment because it is consumed by animals or is broken down by natural elements in the water. Food waste is the only solid waste discharged to the sea by NCL ships. Additionally, NCL is off-loading cooking oil for use in bio diesel installations ashore.

 

All of NCL's ship's except one, which is currently being equipped, have state-of the-art advanced wastewater treatment systems that treat black water and gray water to near drinking water standards. All new ships will be launched with the state-of-the-art advanced wastewater treatment systems. Several of NCL's ships have been approved in ports and countries around the world for continuous discharge in port because the water is so clean and the quality assurance procedures are so rigorous.