Princess Cruises receives environmental award

The Port of Seattle awards Princess Cruises with a Gold Level Green Gateway Award.

Princess Cruises wasrecognized for their environmental safeguards and practices implemented when their ships dock in Seattle. Conscientious standards include fitting vessels with opacity monitors, using oily water separators, and exemplary waste reduction efforts – including providing used cooking oil from ships for making biodiesel.

“We’re gratified that the port has recognized us for making a difference in local environmental efforts,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. “Passengers come to beautiful ports such as Seattle to experience the area’s natural beauty, so we are committed to doing our part to keep it that way.”

An innovator in environmental practices, Princess Cruises created the first shoreside electric power capability in the cruise industry. Beginning in Juneau, Alaska in 2001, this multimillion dollar investment enabled their ship to shut down the diesel engines and “hook up” to a land-based source of electricity.

Now available on six west coast cities from California to Canada, nine Princess ships are able to power-down and plug-in when in port, reducing air-born emissions. Coming soon to a city near you:  Brooklyn, Civitavecchia, Barcelona, Stockholm, Rotterdam and Victoria, Canada

Princess Cruises states that the company’s environmental goals and policies also include a zero solid waste discharge policy, state-of-the-art environmental technology and waste management equipment, programs to minimize waste generated, and recycling where possible.

Photo credits: PortSeattle.org