Environmental officer on board cruise ships

THE IMPORTANCE AND ROLE
OF AN ENVIROMENTAL OFFICER
ON BOARD A CRUISE SHIP
Capt: Manfred Schneideheinze
Vice President
<strong>Environmental</strong> Comliance
AIDA Cruises, Rostock

CV Manfred Schneiderheinze
1961/1964 Master Mariner Certificate
1961–1972 Nautical career – all ranks
1973–1997 DSR-Lines representative abroad
1977–2003 Various positions within DSR-Lines and succeeding
Companies both at HQ’s and abroad, such as:
Regional Manager NWC-Med-Services; Trade
Director Europe/Mid East/Asia,
Med/Canada/USEC/USWC and NWC/USEC/USWC
services, located in Beirut/Lebanon, Genova/Italy,
Montreal/Canada and in the wonderful city of
Bremen/Germany;
2003 Vice President “<strong>Environmental</strong> Compliance“ with
AIDA CRUISES in Rostock/Germany
AIDA CRUISES -Portrait of Company
What began with the signing of the building contract fort he first AIDA club
ship in 1994 has developed into a success story in the tourism branch.
With a turnover of 370 million EUROS and 211,000 guests in 2004, AIDA
Cruises marks the most successful year in its history so far.
The company has a market share of 35% in Germany and with a market
share of 8% it is ranking within the top 5 in the European market.
In 1996, when our first vessel AIDA CARA was put into service and the
“club ship “concept was introduced, the classic cruise was revolutionised.
Today the fleet consists of four ships: the AIDAcara, AIDAvita, AIDAaura,
AIDAblu.
With the order for two club ships, belonging to a totally new generation and
destined for delivery in 2007 and 2009, AIDA Cruises is further extending
its leading position in the cruise market. The 630 million EURO new
building order was granted to the Meyer shipyard in Papenburg/Germany.
In 2010 the AIDA fleet will offer a total of 9,400 beds. It is assumed that by
than the German speaking countries will see one million people taking a
sea voyage.
We are very well prepared for this increasing demand. Our club ships
number five and six are the right answer to this challenge.
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„The importance and role of an environmental <strong>officer</strong>
on board a cruise ship”
The fact that there is an <strong>Environmental</strong> Officer on board of each of our
cruise vessels is under lining the commitment AIDA Cruises top
management and their mother company, CARNIVAL Corporation are taking
to fully comply with all international, national and company internal
environmental laws, rules and regulations.
There is an “<strong>Environmental</strong> Management Policy”, the so-called
“<strong>Environmental</strong> Compliance Plan”,
which is providing detailed guidance, instruction and control
for our ships crews and <strong>officer</strong>s on HOW to execute their daily
job in the most environmental conscious way, in particular as
regards “environmental sensitive” areas.
To understand the importance of the role of an <strong>Environmental</strong>
Officer on board a cruise vessel here is a few facts to
demonstrate the dimension of this task and responsibility:
• The average size of our cruise vessels is accommodating between
1500 and 2000 passengers.
• The challenge to each Cruise vessel operator is to let their
passengers experience unforgettable days throughout their stay on
board, returning back home with the next “cruise booking” already in
their minds…
• To make this happen needs an average 500 highly professional and
motivated crew and <strong>officer</strong>s on each vessel, on duty seven days a
week throughout the year.
• This living together of a fairly big number of people on a rather small
territory over a period of one or two weeks is making it imperatively
necessary to manage the various processes in the most
professional and responsible way.
To better understand what is the “major processes” belonging to a cruise
ship’s daily operational routine one has to be aware there is:
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• the deck- and engine department, where highly qualified and
responsible crew and <strong>officer</strong>s are 24 hours on duty to ensure the
safe running of all ship operations.
• eight restaurants, offering superb meals up to 16 hours a day
• a huge “galley” compartment where all these temptations are being
prepared
• The spa, entertainment and sporting events department, tailoring
their programs to the expectations and liking of our passengers
• the hotel services, keeping passenger cabins in a clean and tidy
condition, continuously.
and last not least
• the laundry services, washing enormous quantities of bed sheets
and towels around the clock
All functioning well, these efforts result in a “high quality cruise product”
which on the one hand is what makes our reputation as a successful
European cruise line.
On the other hand and unavoidably these processes are also generating a
NOT so MUCH WANTED product , that is to say various kinds and
substantial quantities of wastes about which the “overhead projection
folios” is giving you a rough picture for better illustration.
As can be seen the most essential waste categories, including quantities
generated, are grouped into:
• Waste Water/Black Water: 80-100 cbm/day
• Grey Water: 400 cbm/day
• Sludge/Bilge Water: 10 cbm/week
• Food Waste(sea disposal): 5 cbm/week
• Solid Waste(incl. food waste): 50 cbm/week
• Hazardous Waste: 125 kg/week
• Gaseous Emissions: not measurable
• Incinerable waste: 15 cbm/week
To dispose of all these waste streams in strict compliance with
international, national and company internal laws, rules and regulations at
any time and under any given circumstances is an enormous responsibility.
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That is why the management has assigned the position of the
“<strong>Environmental</strong> Officer” to all our ships as early as from from May
2003
The <strong>Environmental</strong> Officer is holding the rank of a “first <strong>officer</strong>”.
He or she* is directly responsible towards the captain and can address any
environmental issue as a permanent participant to the regular meetings of
the “ship’s council”.
From their educational back ground our <strong>Environmental</strong> <strong>officer</strong>s are
universities or high schools graduates, avail of several years of practical
experience in environment related jobs ashore in Germany and/or abroad
and attend a MARPOL specific familiarization course ashore p r i o r their
first assignment.
Needless to underline that because of the complexity and magnitude of this
task the Env.Officer is greatly depending on the active and constructive
cooperation from all aboard, i. e. from the “motorman” to the “captain”.
<strong>Environmental</strong> Officer’s primary tasks and responsibilities can be
quantified as follows:
• make all people on board understand: there is a strong need to protect
our marine environment, accept there is every justification for environment
protection programs to be in place
and obtain every one’s active participation to implement these programs
and make it part of their daily work process.
• Be at the disposal of passengers to answer any questions of
environmental concern
• Conduct, together with pertinent shipboard personnel, monthly ship
board environmental self assessments(kind of mini-audit)
• Assist Operating Line HQ’s to conduct annual internal environmental
audits
• Make sure “deficiencies” resulting from audits are duly complied with,
both in quality and in a timely fashion
• Assist in the training of ship board personnel on environmental
policies and procedures
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• Ensure that all wastes which is subject to special handling and
attention is being managed properly and in compliance with
applicable requirements and operating line policies.
• Maintain ship’s copies of all waste manifests and receipts
• Regularly review the Oil Record book, Garbage Record book and other
Logs and Record books reflecting and evidencing operations involving
environmental sensitive machinery.
• Participate in the development, implementation and enforcement of
corporate/operating line environmental policies and procedure
• Assist the Master in responding to inquiries or complaints of any crew
member or passenger regarding perceived improper environmental
practises
• Maintain permanent dialogue with HQ’s environmental department and
Env.Officers of other vessels within the fleet to exchange views,
experiences and concerns in order push ahead towards “full
environmental compliance“ in all that is related to this issue.
This list could be extended to a much wider range and is in NO
way exhausting the scope of tasks and responsibilities the
<strong>Environmental</strong> Officer is to handle.
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Solid waste
•plastic
•paper
•glas
• metal / scarp metal
• wood
•ash
Hazardous Waste
• batteries
• chemicals
• refrigerant
• neon tubes
• photo chemicals
• dry cleaning waste
• hospital waste
• paint, thinner
• smoke detector
• cartridges
Summary
Food waste
Gaseous Emissions
Waste water
• Sludge / bilge water
• black water (sewage)
• gray water (shower + drains)