The MDI Water Quality Coalition initiated a citizen-based cruise ship monitoring project in
May 2004 after community members expressed concern about cruise ship industry compliance
with new state legislation. The new legislation, An Act to Protect Maine’s Coastal Waters,
enacted in April 2004, prohibits discharge of graywater or a mixture of graywater and blackwater
and requires licensing by 2006 of advanced wastewater treatment systems for 
ships discharging
in the coastal waters of Maine. The Bar Harbor harbormaster’s boat was used to transport
monitors alongside ships in order to sample water for phytoplankton, temperature, salinity,
dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, Enterococcus bacteria, transparency, chlorine, and
nitrogen. Water was sampled near 31 cruise ships between May and November 2004. Water
samples were analyzed at the Community Environmental Health Laboratory, a research and
education collaborative with the MDI Biological Laboratory. No significant long-term effects on
the water quality in Bar Harbor were detected. Two ships discharged contaminated water; these
were not members of the International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL).
ICCL ships (10 in all)
appeared to be in full compliance with new state legislation.
In 2007, a control site was established where zooplankton is monitored. Andrew Peterson captain of the Indigo (College of the Atlantic ’s research vessel) helped the coalition find the Hop (island connected to North Porcupine by a sand bar) for the control site.
As a result of this project, the MDI Water Quality Coalition has made recommendations to the cruise ship industry, the town of Bar Harbor, the Maine State DEP, and community members. These include increased awareness of state and local regulations, support and funding for local citizen groups to ensure monitoring during future cruise ship seasons, clearly stated local harbor regulations, clearly interpreted and stringently enforced state legislation, and increased community involvement.
Cruise Industry Environment 101 Program Presented in Two Maine Ports Educational presentations were given in Portland and Bar Harbor in April that highlighted |
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Featured Speakers : Richard Pruitt, Director Environment and Public Health Programs for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
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