Cruise Ships

Cruise ships began visiting Monterey Bay in 2002 and as a result, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary regulations were amended to prohibit the discharging or depositing from within or into the sanctuary any material or other matter from a cruise ship except clean vessel engine cooling water, vessel generator cooling water, or anchor wash. Due to their sheer size and capacity for passengers, cruise ships can cause serious impacts to the marine environment. The main pollutants generated by a cruise ship are:

• Black water (sewage)
• Gray water (lightly used water from clothes washers, showers, bathtubs, and bathroom sinks)
• Oily bilge water
• Hazardous wastes
• Solid wastes

Sanctuary staff conduct outreach to the cruise industry regarding sanctuary policies and developed enforcement and monitoring programs.

How is the Sanctuary Involved?

The U.S. Coast Guard is the federal agency with jurisdictional authority to board and inspect maritime vessels. Together, the Coast Guard and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary staff conduct random, joint inspections of cruise ships visiting Monterey to verify their adherence with sanctuary and Coast Guard regulations. Inspectors review ship logs, interview crew members, and physically inspect the engine room, waste management, and other work spaces to ensure that prescribed environmental safeguards and practices are in order.

In 2002, in consultation with Monterey Harbor, an anchorage area was established to minimize impacts to marine habitat, while meeting logistical requirements for safe and smooth transfer of passengers to and from the ships. The two sites are Anchorage A (preferred) which is about 700 yards outside the Monterey Harbor entrance, and Anchorage B (alternate) which is about 2,500 yards from the Monterey Harbor entrance. The anchorages were established over sandy seafloor areas to avoid the reef habitat.

Cruise ships are maneuvered into the designated anchorages by an experienced San Francisco bar pilot familiar with these waters and local maritime controls here. Once a ship's anchor is set, the ship's position is carefully monitored by navigation equipment and the deck crew 24 hours a day. The bar pilot remains aboard the cruise ship from arrival through departure. Standard ship operations include provisions for avoiding wildlife, as the sound of the ships’ large engines and propellers readily transmit their position and progress through the water to wildlife in their path. Some ships may use apps, such as Ocean Alert, for information about whale presence along their routes.

There are extensive federal and state regulatory requirements for contingency spill planning and preparedness that govern cruise ships. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife Office of Spill Prevention and Response establishes vessel spill response standards, conducts inspections, and enforces compliance under Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, Sections 825.01 - 827.02. The U.S. Coast Guard also inspects cruise ships regularly for enforcement of federal safety and environmental laws, including spill response preparedness.