Ships sewage holding tanks,
Feb 9, 2024 12:18:26 #
Yes,,, I am curious, (of all things) a ships holding tank. Having traveled the inland waterways in a 37ft live
aboard trawler a week at a time, I had to know where the pump-out stations were along my route.
Now lets think about a very large cruise ship, over 7,000 passengers plus the crew, out in seas for days at a time.
Think about the sewage and waste water created in just 24hrs. Am wondering what the size of their holding tanks
are? My other thought is, do these large cruise ships dump their holding tanks in the seas?, I suspect that they do!
Wondering also if there are maritime laws that would prohibit that dumping, with exceptions for large ships?
Looking forward to your input on my wondering and curiosity, malvin
aboard trawler a week at a time, I had to know where the pump-out stations were along my route.
Now lets think about a very large cruise ship, over 7,000 passengers plus the crew, out in seas for days at a time.
Think about the sewage and waste water created in just 24hrs. Am wondering what the size of their holding tanks
are? My other thought is, do these large cruise ships dump their holding tanks in the seas?, I suspect that they do!
Wondering also if there are maritime laws that would prohibit that dumping, with exceptions for large ships?
Looking forward to your input on my wondering and curiosity, malvin
Feb 9, 2024 12:29:15 #
malvin wrote:
Yes,,, I am curious, (of all things) a ships holdi... (show quote)
I was in the Navy in the 1960s aboard a 5,000 man aircraft carrier, I believe we just dumped everything in the sea. I don’t know about now, but I expect today there are dumping rules.
Feb 9, 2024 12:44:16 #
Google is wonderful - here are some links to inform you that there is a wide variety of answers 
https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/cruise-ship-waste-managemet/
https://cruiseshiptraveller.com/what-cruise-ships-do-with-human-waste/
https://familycruisecompanion.com/how-do-cruise-ships-get-rid-of-human-waste/
https://cruiseportadvisor.com/what-does-a-cruise-ship-do-with-human-waste/
https://luxurytraveldiva.com/how-does-a-cruise-ship-get-rid-of-human-waste/
https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/cruise-ship-waste-managemet/
https://cruiseshiptraveller.com/what-cruise-ships-do-with-human-waste/
https://familycruisecompanion.com/how-do-cruise-ships-get-rid-of-human-waste/
https://cruiseportadvisor.com/what-does-a-cruise-ship-do-with-human-waste/
https://luxurytraveldiva.com/how-does-a-cruise-ship-get-rid-of-human-waste/
Feb 9, 2024 12:44:23 #
Mac wrote:
I was in the Navy in the 1960s aboard a 5,000 man aircraft carrier, I believe we just dumped everything in the sea. I don’t know about now, but I expect today there are dumping rules.
Last I knew, many years ago, they could not dump within X miles of the coast.
Feb 9, 2024 12:50:02 #
Longshadow wrote:
Last I knew, many years ago, they could not dump within X miles of the coast.
That makes sense, it was probably the case when I was in too. And even if it wasn’t common sense and common decency would dictate that. I wonder if cruise ships get far enough out to sea.
Feb 9, 2024 12:51:03 #
Mac wrote:
That makes sense, it was probably the case when I was in too. And even if it wasn’t common sense and common decency would dictate that. I wonder if cruise ships get far enough out to sea.
I think it's 10 or 12 miles.
They most likely do.
Feb 9, 2024 12:55:39 #
Mac wrote:
I was in the Navy in the 1960s aboard a 5,000 man aircraft carrier, I believe we just dumped everything in the sea. I don’t know about now, but I expect today there are dumping rules.
I remember those days (70’s for me) - they also tossed all the garbage off the fantail which brought the sharks in close. The skipper said no plastic bags to be tossed overboard. The other thing I remember is when we were heading home, a lot of sailors that were getting out would toss their sea bags loaded with their uniforms overboard. We would ask them if they would donate their seabags and uniforms to the base thrift store so other sailors could use the stuff - most said yes. We had a PO2 that collected all the uniform stuff he could and gave it to the homeless via his church.
Feb 9, 2024 12:56:39 #
malvin wrote:
Yes,,, I am curious, (of all things) a ships holdi... (show quote)
Large cruise ships have sewage treatment plants. After filtration to remove solids, the water is treated and disinfected until it's clean enough to be discharged at sea, usually when the ship is more than 12 miles from land.
Feb 9, 2024 13:26:08 #
Shellback wrote:
I remember those days (70’s for me) - they also to... (show quote)
That’s a nice story about saving old uniforms, thank you for sharing it.
Feb 9, 2024 14:33:31 #
Mac wrote:
That’s a nice story about saving old uniforms, thank you for sharing it.
Feb 9, 2024 22:32:20 #
Shellback wrote:
I remember those days (70’s for me) - they also to... (show quote)
I knew a woman who would go to the Salvation Army and get old uniforms, cut them up and make blankets to give to the homeless.
Feb 9, 2024 22:44:55 #
Horseart wrote:
I knew a woman who would go to the Salvation Army and get old uniforms, cut them up and make blankets to give to the homeless.
Feb 10, 2024 08:29:52 #
On another subject , when i was young in europe , steam trains still , in the late 50 / 60 s , when you went to the toilet and open the lid , you would see the rail road ties going by . So guess where that was going . A sign said not to use the toilet in a station .
Feb 10, 2024 09:23:06 #
When I was a kid in the 50's and 60's our family would spend the summers in Alamitos Bay just south of Los Angeles and Long Beach harbors. I remember what seemed like little logs on the ocean bed rolling over my feet. I always wondered what they were. But, when your 7 or 8 years old, you don't care, you just love being in the ocean.
Feb 10, 2024 16:38:15 #
Me too, USS Wasp 1962. Standard 1MC announcement "Now hear this, all cleaning stations, clean your spaces and dump refuse off the fan tail".
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