Cruise Industry Restart Demands

The document presents a comprehensive set of demands for the cruise industry to address long-standing failures in environmental protection, public health, and labor rights. Key requirements include a commitment to zero emissions, the cessation of heavy fuel oil (HFO) and scrubbers, 100% shore power use by 2025, and the adoption of fair labor standards and tax compliance. It also calls for the respect of frontline communities' right to self-determination and the implementation of strict health protocols to prevent disease outbreaks. Additionally, the text advocates for the elimination of 'flags of convenience' by 2030 and the adoption of the UN Sustainable Development Goals to mitigate the socio-economic impacts of cruise tourism.

• The cruise industry is demanded to commit to zero emissions across its global fleet, starting with a 40% reduction in the first decade and subsequent annual reductions of at least 5%.
• To reduce black carbon emissions, the industry should immediately stop using high sulfur fuel oil (HSFO) globally and stop using both HSFO and very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) in the Arctic, switching instead to distillate/marine gasoil (MGO) or non-fossil fuels.
• The document demands 100% shore power use by 2025, requiring cruise lines to retrofit ships and pay all infrastructure costs in ports of call without seeking taxpayer subsidies.
• The industry is called upon to immediately stop using scrubbers (open-loop, closed-loop, or hybrid) to prevent the discharge of polluted washwater into oceans.
• To avoid tax avoidance and the evasion of environmental and labor regulations, all new and current ships should be flagged in the country of the company's headquarters by 2030.
• Labor demands include capping work hours at 48-60 per week, paying time and a half for hours over 50, and ensuring wages align with the national minimum wage of the company's headquarters country.
• The document requires the industry to obtain free, prior, and informed consent from Indigenous communities and residents near ports before developing cruise tourism operations.
• Public health demands include installing HVAC air purifying systems to limit disease transfer and providing real-time public reporting of infectious diseases identified among crew or passengers.

APA

Fox, A. (2020). Cruise Industry Restart Demands. Friends of the Earth. https://foe.org/blog/cruise-industry-restart-demands/

Chicago

Fox, Audrey. Cruise Industry Restart Demands. Friends of the Earth, 2020. https://foe.org/blog/cruise-industry-restart-demands/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Fox |first1=Audrey |title=Cruise Industry Restart Demands |publisher=Friends of the Earth |date=15 September 2020 |url=https://foe.org/blog/cruise-industry-restart-demands/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{fox2020cruise, author = {Fox, Audrey}, title = {{Cruise Industry Restart Demands}}, publisher = {Friends of the Earth}, year = {2020}, month = sep, url = {https://foe.org/blog/cruise-industry-restart-demands/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }