AbstractsBusiness Management & Administration

Cruise ship generated waste in the Baltic Sea - A study from the port's point of view on a possible updated waste management system

by Irina Svaetichin




Institution: University of Helsinki
Department:
Year: 2016
Keywords: Maantiede
Posted: 02/05/2017
Record ID: 2111127
Full text PDF: http://hdl.handle.net/10138/160864


Abstract

The Baltic Sea is a popular cruising area during the summer months (April till September) with international cruise lines. During these months cruising ports of the Baltic Sea handle the cruise ship generated waste. As the cruising business has been rapidly growing the waste streams has become larger. Present laws and regulations prevent most discharges into the Baltic sea. According to these regulations a ship has to discharge all waste at the port of call produced on board since last port of call. Thus, ports have different waste management strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, it is here argued that an updated collaboration among the ports where individual ports would be specialized in specific types of waste handlings ought to benefit the environmental work of the port and the cruise lines and thus also the environment. The thesis will through experts’ ideas and opinions from each port study whether an updated waste management can be introduced in the ports of the study. The individual ports are Port of Helsinki, Port of Tallinn, Ports of Stockholm and Copenhagen Malmö Port. Cruise ship generated waste has been study to some extent around the world, but there are only a few studies in the Baltic Sea area. Secondary data and semi structured thematic professional interviews was used to find answers on the research questions. Secondary data in form of waste streams quantities from cruise ships 2010–2014 in the ports of the study was gathered. The gathered data enabled comparisons among the ports and shows in what way the fractions are divided among them. The interviews were held at each port with one to three participants at the time. In total 12 persons were interviewed at nine occasions. The transcribed material was analysed through thematising. The research shows cruise ship generated waste fractions are unevenly distributed among the ports in the Baltic Sea. Hence, this also means the ports are already specialized in receiving special types of waste fractions. The ports are receiving sorted waste and different fractions are being handled. The ports have a close cooperation regarding cruise ships but the study shows the ports are open for new sustainable solutions. This thesis opens up the discussion on cruise ship generated waste in the Baltic Sea. The study shows there is little research done on this matter and further studies are needed. The waste management of all parties involved are important in order to act environmentally friendly and harm the surrounding areas the least. This research provides the Baltic Sea cruising ports with one possible solution on an updated waste handling management in the area. Under sommarmånaderna från april till september är Östersjön ett populärt område för kryssningsindustrin med dess internationella kryssningsfartyg. Under dessa månader är det hamnarna i Östersjön som tar hand om avfallen från kryssningsfartygen. I och med att kryssningsindustrin har växt har även avfallsmängden blivit större. Idag finns det lagar och förordningar som förhindrar de flesta utsläppen…