The group "Portland Cruise Control" wants the city to ban scrubber wash, the often-untreated discharge from systems that remove contaminants from marine engine exhaust.
JoAnn Locktov formed Portland Cruise Control with concerned residents Matthew Day and Maggy Wolf, to reduce the pollution from cruise ships in the port. Locktov said the city council workshop Wednesday provided a lot of information, but more is needed about the harm's scrubber wash poses to people.
As cruise ships continue to arrive along Maine's coastline this summer, a local environmental group is calling on the city of Portland to take stronger steps to reduce pollution from those vessels.
Portland Cruise Control said it proposed a ban on scrubber wash discharge in Portland Harbor. It's the wastewater produced when cruise ships clean their exhaust systems. The group explained discharge is a contributor to ocean pollution and allows ships to burn cheaper, more harmful fuel.
The proposal, submitted by Portland Cruise Control, is expected to be evaluated by a City Council subcommittee in the fall.
Under the Portland group’s proposal, ships would be required to use a clean distillate fuel like marine grade oil for the eight hours they are allowed to dock in the harbor. The ships also would be banned from releasing discharge while docked.
Producer Marina Henke spent the months leading up to the 2025 cruise season charting these muddy waters. For small coastal cities like Portland, are cruise ships really the economic generator that the industry claims them to be?
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Portland also is showing signs of pushback against the industry, with a group called Portland Cruise Control forming this spring to scrutinize the ships' impact on the city.
"It was because of all the people who voiced their dismay over the pollution being caused by the MSC Meraviglia that the ship has now made a critical change in the quality of our air and water. The cruise industry must be held accountable for the pollution they cause. I don't want people to ever forget that their voices can create a positive difference. I applaud the city for listening, reacting, and finding a solution to the negative environmental impacts of the ship."
While some local businesses see a boost in sales from cruise passengers, some residents have concerns about crowding and the environmental impact of the ships.
A new community group, Portland Cruise Control, is working to raise awareness about what they say are negative impacts of the cruise industry.
Along with any benefits, there are great costs to having cruise ships, including devastating air and water pollution and negative cultural impacts. We believe the responsibility of eliminating the pollution belongs to the cruise lines, but it is up to the people of Portland to hold them accountable and prevent them from damaging our beautiful city.
From Alaska to Maine to Virginia, residents are using their voices and the law to preserve their communities.
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