Cruise lines 'to stop dumping sewage in Baltic'

Major cruise lines will stop dumping untreated sewage into the Baltic Sea if ports will put waste facilities in place for them, the European Cruise Council (EEC) has announced.

Welcoming the news, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) said it is an important step in the right direction.

More than 350 cruise liners travel around the Baltic every year, making 2,100 port calls.

Commenting on the news, Dr Anita Makinen, head of the marine programme at WWF Finland, said: "The dumping of untreated waste water straight out into the Baltic Sea poses an unnecessary threat to the sensitive nature of the Baltic Sea environment."

At present, the wastewater being dumped by the vessels is leading to eutrophication due to excess amounts of nitrogen and phosphorous making their way into the sea.

In related news, figures released by the EEC today show that the European cruise industry has experienced significant levels of growth in the last year.