Biological and ecological effects of wastewater discharges from cruise ships in Alaska

A Science Advisory Panel of the Alaska Cruise Ship Initiative investigated possible effects of commercial passenger vessel wastewater discharges on marine life in coastal waters of the Gulf of Alaska. The Panel concluded that due to the high dilution rates of moving cruise ships there is little likelihood of contaminant impacts to marine life in the water column, at the sea surface, in subsurface sediments or on the shoreline. However, stationary discharge in a low tidal exchange area could lead to water quality issues and should be minimized.