CLIA INDUSTRY STANDARD 

CRUISE INDUSTRY WASTE MANAGEMENT 

PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES 

The members of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) are dedicated to 

preserving the marine environment and in particular the pristine condition of the oceans and other 

waters upon which our vessels sail. The environmental standards that apply to our industry are 

stringent and comprehensive. Through the International Maritime Organization, the United 

States and flag and port states, CLIA has developed consistent and uniform international 

standards that apply to all vessels engaged in international commerce. These standards are set 

forth in the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). The 

international standards of MARPOL have in turn been adopted by the United States and 

augmented by additional national legislation and regulation. The U.S. has jurisdiction over both 

foreign and domestic vessels that operate in U.S. waters where U.S. laws, such as the Federal 

Water Pollution Control Act, the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, the Ports and Waterways 

Safety Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act - which applies to hazardous waste 

as it is landed ashore for disposal, apply. The U.S. Coast Guard enforces both international 

conventions and domestic laws. 

 The cruise industry commitment to protecting the environment is demonstrated by the 

comprehensive spectrum of waste management technologies and procedures employed on its 

vessels. 

CLIA members are committed to: 

a. Designing, constructing and operating vessels, so as to minimize their impact on the 

environment; 

b. Developing improved technologies to exceed current requirements for protection of 

the environment; 

c. Implementing a policy goal of zero discharge of MARPOL, Annex V solid waste 

products (garbage) and equivalent US laws and regulations by use of more 

comprehensive waste minimization procedures to significantly reduce shipboard 

generated waste; 

d. Expanding waste reduction strategies to include reuse and recycling to the maximum 

extent possible so as to land ashore even smaller quantities of waste products; 

e. Improving processes and procedures for collection and transfer of hazardous waste; 

and 

f. Strengthening comprehensive programs for monitoring and auditing of onboard 

environmental practices and procedures in accordance with the International Safety 

Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention (ISM 

Code). 
INDUSTRY WASTE MANAGEMENT STANDARDS: CLIA member cruise vessel operators 

have agreed to incorporate the following standards for waste stream management into their 

respective Safety Management Systems. 

1. Photo Processing, Including X-Ray Development Fluid Waste: Member lines have 

agreed to minimize the discharge of silver into the marine environment through the 

use of best available technology that will reduce the silver content of the waste 

stream below levels specified by prevailing regulations.

2. Dry-cleaning waste fluids and contaminated materials: Member lines have agreed to

prevent the discharge of chlorinated dry-cleaning fluids, sludge, contaminated filter 

materials and other dry-cleaning waste byproducts into the environment 

3. Print Shop Waste Fluids: Member lines have agreed to prevent the discharge of 

hazardous wastes from printing materials (inks) and cleaning chemicals into the 

environment. 

4. Photo Copying and Laser Printer Cartridges: Member lines have agreed to initiate 

procedures so as to maximize the return of photo copying and laser printer 

cartridges for recycling. In any event, these cartridges will be landed ashore. 

5. Unused And Outdated Pharmaceuticals: Member lines have agreed to ensure that 

unused and/or outdated pharmaceuticals are effectively and safely disposed of in 

accordance with legal and environmental requirements.

6. Fluorescent And Mercury Vapor Lamp Bulbs: Member lines have agreed to prevent 

the release of mercury into the environment from spent fluorescent and mercury 

vapor lamps by assuring proper recycling or by using other acceptable means of 

disposal.

7. Batteries: Member lines have agreed to prevent the discharge of spent batteries into 

the marine environment.

8. Bilge and Oily Water Residues: Member lines have agreed to meet or exceed the 

international requirements for removing oil from bilge and wastewater prior to 

discharge. 

9. Glass, Cardboard, Aluminum and Steel Cans: Member lines have agreed to 

eliminate, to the maximum extent possible, the disposal of MARPOL Annex V wastes 

into the marine environment. This will be achieved through improved reuse and 

recycling opportunities. They have further agreed that no waste will be discharged 

into the marine environment unless it has been properly processed and can be 

discharged in accordance with MARPOL and other prevailing requirements. 

10. Incinerator Ash: Member lines have agreed to reduce the production of incinerator 

ash by minimizing the generation of waste and maximizing recycling opportunities. 

11. Graywater: [For ships traveling regularly on itineraries beyond the territorial 

waters of coastal states], member lines have agreed that graywater will be 

discharged only while the ship is underway and proceeding at a speed of not less 
than 6 knots1

; that graywater will not be discharged in port and will not be 

discharged within 4 nautical miles from shore or such other distance as agreed to 

with authorities having jurisdiction or provided for by local law except in an 

emergency, or where geographically limited. Member lines have further agreed that 

the discharge of graywater will comply with all applicable laws and regulations. For 

vessels whose itineraries are fully within US territorial waters, discharge shall 

comply fully with U.S. and individual state legislation and regulations. 

12. Blackwater: CLIA members have agreed that all blackwater will be processed 

through a Marine Sanitation Device (MSD), certified in accordance with U.S. or 

international regulations, prior to discharge. For ships traveling regularly on 

itineraries beyond territorial coastal waters, discharge will take place only when the 

ship is more than 4 miles from shore and when the ship is traveling at a speed of not 

less than 6 knots.1

 For vessels whose itineraries are fully within US territorial 

waters, discharge shall comply fully with U.S. and individual state legislation and 

regulations. 

Some member cruise lines are field-testing wastewater treatment systems that utilize 

advanced technologies. These onboard wastewater treatment systems, which are currently being 

referred to as advanced wastewater purification (AWP) systems, are designed to result in effluent 

discharges that are of a high quality and purity; for example, meeting or surpassing secondary and 

tertiary effluents and reclaimed water. Effluents meeting these high standards would not be 

subjected to the strict discharge limitations previously discussed. 

Each CLIA cruise vessel operator has agreed to utilize one or more of the practices and 

procedures contained in the attached “Cruise Industry Waste Management Practices and 

Procedures” in the management of their shipboard waste streams. Recognizing that technology 

is progressing at a rapid rate, any new equipment or management practices that are equivalent to 

or better than those described, and which are shown to meet or exceed international and federal 

environmental standards, will also be acceptable. Member lines have agreed to communicate to 

CLIA the use of equivalent or other acceptable practices and procedures. As appropriate, such 

practices and procedures shall be included as a revision to the attached document. As an 

example, when improved systems for treating blackwater and graywater are perfected and shown 

to meet the requirements for MSDs and accepted by appropriate authorities, the new systems and 

associated technology will be included in the attachment as a revision. 

CLIA and its Environmental Committee will continue to work with the U.S. Coast Guard, 

the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other appropriate agencies to further implement 

the above commitments. 

1 For vessels operating under sail, or a combination of sail and motor propulsion, the speed shall not be less 

than 4 knots. 

ATTACHMENT: CRUISE INDUSTRY WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES 

Revised: November 12, 2006 

Effective for non-prior ICCL members: [July 1, 2007]