| For many years, Holland America has stressed environmental awareness, conservation, waste reduction and recycling. Today, our environmental initiatives positively affect the lives of guests, staff, and the inhabitants of the many regions visited by our cruises and tours.
Our Five-Star ships are as environmentally sound as they are physically beautiful. We were the first to follow MARPOL standards for garbage processing and disposal (adhering to the standards three years before they became law).
We take care of the land
Our conservation measures on land are equally extensive. Guests may choose from a long list of environmentally sensitive shore excursions with an emphasis on ecology. In Alaska - where environmental conservation is of utmost importance - our Westmark Hotels and Gray Line transportation divisions conduct extensive recycling programs and use environmentally sensitive products that are federally approved.
As a pioneer in on-board recycling, we introduced a program called "Seagoing Environmental Awareness." The purpose of this program is to educate staff and crew on conservation practices, to encourage suppliers to produce environmentally safe packaging, to use recycled paper products, and to eliminate plastic use. Every ship recycles under the program.
Getting Involved
We support numerous organizations whose missions are focused on environmental causes and provide assistance to organizations such as the Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center, Yukon Wildlife Preserve, Kenai River Trust, Washington Environmental Coalition, and Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo and Aquarium.
Holland America is an environmental leader in the cruise Industry:
All of our ships have two oily-water separators to prevent discharges due to equipment malfunction. Our vessels adhere to a "zero discharge" policy in harbors, special areas and protected pristine environments, such as Glacier Bay National Park, even though existing law would permit the discharge of certain items in these areas. For over five years we have operated a complete recycling program allowing us to avoid having to dispose of glass, aluminum, paper, batteries, wood, and cardboard. We use recycled paper for all onboard printed materials. Even cooking and other waste oil is either recycled ashore or burned as fuel. Our ships are all equipped with recording and monitoring devices that enable us to instantly know if water discharge or smoke emission criteria are exceeded.
Every crew member is required to go through environmental training prior to serving on our vessels.
We were in compliance with the International Marine Organization (IMO) Marine Pollution requirements (MARPOL, Annex V) three years before the required compliance date and prior to any other cruise line. In order to address the special threat that plastics present to the marine environment, we have eliminated plastic cups, straws, stirrers, and packaging; we use bulk dispensers instead of individually packaged condiments. Every aspect of our operations has been scrutinized to find recyclable alternatives to plastic.
We have added special video presentations for passengers to ensure their sensitivity to the special environmental conditions that exist in Alaska.
To maintain our environmental program, we subject all our ships to rigorous annual environmental audits by our own personnel and by outside experts.
Hazardous and chemical wastes on our ships are disposed of ashore in strict compliance with U.S. EPA regulations and tracked using a computerized system. Paint waste is almost completely eliminated by use of distillers.
Our onboard photo labs are all equipped with silver recovery systems rather than permit this heavy metal to be discharged overboard.
More than half of our fleet has been built in the past seven years. As a result, we have the most advanced sewage systems, increased holding capacity for gray and black water, lower air emissions through increased fuel burning efficiency, and the highest quality oily-water separators.
In addition, Holland America supports the efforts of others to protect and preserve the environment through generous donations to the Kenai River Trust, the Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center, the Alaska SeaLife Center, the Woodland Park Zoo, and the Seattle Aquarium. Three years ago, after one of our ships damaged coral reef in Grand Cayman during adverse weather, Holland America spent over $500,000 for one of the most ambitious and successful reef restoration projects ever undertaken. Most recently, the Company spent almost $200,000 to produce a new Glacier Bay video for the National Park Service to replace the film the Park had been using for the past 15 years.
Environmental Standards
As of 1990, all ships on any waters must meet what are known as the MARPOL standards, which are promulgated by the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships. Annex V of the MARPOL Treaty is an international law governing waste disposal in a marine environment. All cruise ships are inspected and monitored by the flag state and the U.S. Coast Guard for compliance. Holland America Line was the first cruise line following the Annex V standards three years before they became law and currently meets or exceeds all regulations for garbage processing and disposal.
The standards divide waters into four marine zones, depending upon the proximity to shore. It is illegal to dump any solid waste within 3 miles of shore or in any United States lake, river, bay or sound. From 3 to 12 miles, it is illegal to dump plastic; dunnage, which is defined as lining and packing materials that float; and paper, rags, glass, crockery, metal and food if not ground to less than one inch in diameter. From 12 to 25 miles, it's illegal to dump plastic and dunnage, and outside 25 miles it is illegal to dump plastic. Holland America Line operates under a zero discharge policy for plastic and for all non-processed solid waste.
Holland America ships don't discharge even processed solid waste in British Columbia's and Alaska's Inside Passage or the Gulf of Alaska. Each Holland America Line ship has storage facilities for solid waste for up to 14 days. In addition, each ship has five crew members who deal only with garbage processing, storage, recycling and disposal.
Each Holland America ship generates approximately 8 tons of refuse, on average, during a seven-day cruise. This waste is carefully separated and processed. Each ship is equipped with various types of processing equipment, such as a mulcher, grinder, glass breaker, densifier, baler and incinerator. Waste is processed for on-board storage for land disposal or for recycling. Glass is ground into small fragments; paper is baled or burned. Food waste may be ground and incinerated or discharged at sea or saved for shore disposal, depending on where the ship is. All plastic is saved for shore disposal.
Responsible Use of Packaging
Holland America Line takes an aggressive approach to minimize the use of packaging, especially plastics, and to substitute for plastics whenever possible. For example, the ships use paper or washable cups; wooden stirrers; paper bags; and glass or metal packaging as much as possible. To further reduce plastic packaging, Holland America Line has installed bulk dispensers for individual condiments and cream. Any plastic waste is separated on the ships and marked for land disposal. Holland America does not add to the waste stream by using plastic liners; all waste is collected in washable, reusable receptacles.
Recycling Program
Holland America Line is a pioneer in on-board recycling. In January 1993, the company began a recycling program on the ms Westerdam that was expanded to all Holland America Line ships. Currently, glass, aluminum, white paper, wooden pallets, plastic buckets and cardboard are recycled from the ships, depending on the capabilities of shore facilities. The Marine Hotel Department has changed the specifications for guest amenities so that these items will be packaged in recyclable plastic bottles marked with the Society of Plastics Code to facilitate recycling. Of the seven types of plastics available, we will standardize our packaging to the type easiest to recycle.
Policies Relating to Health and Sanitation
Holland America Line is totally committed to a comprehensive program to ensure the health and safety of its passengers and employees.
Holland America Line participates fully in the voluntary inspection program conducted by the U.S. Public Health Service and was instrumental in developing the new manual and present inspection format. Under the Vessel Sanitation Program, administered by the USPHS and the Centers for Disease Control, cruise ships operating out of U.S. ports undergo rigorous, unannounced inspections twice a year. Each ship is scored on 42 inspection items, each of which has a point value of 1 to 5, with a total value of 100 points. Ships must score at least 86 to pass the inspection.
If, for any reason, discrepancies are found during any inspection, immediate action is taken to correct the problem and prevent it from recurring. The company also invests $2 million annually on board its ships in order to meet or surpass governmental requirements.
In addition to this inspection program, Holland America Line has on staff two sanitarians who are thoroughly familiar with USPHS requirements and regularly conduct announced and unannounced inspections on all ships to ensure that all health standards are being addressed. They also conduct educational classes for management and staff on the principles and requirements regarding safe food handling, preparation, storage and service. Management and staff follow strict guidelines on board ship to ensure sanitation and food service standards are met. Strict procedures also have been established relating to water storage and distribution, swimming pool and spa operation, equipment maintenance and repair, and personal hygiene.
Holland America Line has developed its own food service sanitation training and certification program. Marine hotel staff on board ship undergo a minimum of 25 hours of basic sanitation training, followed by additional ongoing training. The company takes great pride that its crews understand and appreciate the reasons for the very strict requirements and is confident in their ability to adhere to them.
The company is proud of its past excellent record in cleanliness - a record which has become nearly legendary over its more than 125 years of operations - but constantly strives to improve its efforts on behalf of its guests.
All soaps, kitchen cleansers, laundry detergents and pesticides used on board Holland America Line ships are approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) or U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The only sanitizer used on board is common household bleach diluted 100 parts to a million. Bulk formulators and dispensing systems have been installed for the majority of cleaning compounds. Recyclable containers and re-usable applicators are used for these cleaning products. This has dramatically reduced the generation of packing/container waste, especially plastics.
In an attempt to complete the cycle, Holland America buys products manufactured from or packaged in recycled packaging. Printed matter is on recycled paper, when available. The company also is exploring styrofoam recycling methods. On-board amenities are free of animal products and have not been tested on animals.
Holland America Line vessels all have U.S. Coast Guard-approved marine sanitation treatment devices and can hold all gray and black water while in port. The company follows a no-discharge policy in port by storage in holding tanks. All Holland America ships are equipped with state-of-the-art combustion equipment and the ships' engines burn a higher grade of fuel than required in an effort to limit air emissions. This added expense pays off in cleaner exhaust gases.
Holland America ships use Freon 22 as a refrigerant. This CFC is presently the most environmentally acceptable, but the company is prepared to switch to a more acceptable refrigerant when it is developed. The company also recovers all freon from compressors.
Other Environmental Policies
Protecting the environment is an integral part of all of Holland America Line-Westours' business, including its Westmark Hotels in Alaska and the Yukon and its Gray Line operations. Shops in the Gray Line division regularly recycle all suitable materials and Westmark conducts an active recycling program in its corporate offices and at all hotel properties. Cleaners used throughout the system are environmentally sensitive products that are federally approved. Products used in the hotels and in Gray Line vehicles are specified to be recyclable whenever possible.
Holland America was the first cruise company to incorporate a naturalist program into its Alaska cruises. This allows visitors to understand and appreciate what they are viewing in a more comprehensible manner.
Holland America also supports numerous organizations whose missions are focused on environmental subjects. These include the Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center, the Woodland Park Zoo, the Yukon Wildlife Preserve, the Kenai River Trust, the Washington Environmental Coalition and the Seattle Aquarium, which is the home of a female sea otter rescued from the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska and adopted by the company.
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