Where Does the Human Waste Go on a Cruise Ship?

By Michael Ferguson

Cruise ships are an amazing way to explore the world and enjoy all the luxuries of vacationing, but where does all the human waste go? It’s not a topic we usually consider, but it’s an important one.

Cruise ships produce significant amounts of human waste, both solid and liquid. Solid waste includes things like food scraps, toilet paper, plastic bottles and other materials that are disposed of in trash receptacles.

Liquid waste includes sewage from toilets and showers and is discharged into the ocean.

Cruise ships must adhere to strict regulations when it comes to disposing of their human waste. All sewage must be treated before being discharged into the ocean, usually through onboard treatment systems such as macerators or holding tanks.

Macerators are machines that break down solid materials into smaller particles so they can be more easily processed by the treatment system.

The treated sewage is then discharged into the ocean at least three miles away from shore and at least 12 miles away from coral reefs, in accordance with international maritime law. This ensures that the wastewater is diluted by a large volume of seawater before it reaches land or delicate marine ecosystems.

Conclusion

Cruise ships must follow strict regulations when it comes to disposing of their human waste. The treated sewage is discharged into the ocean at least three miles away from shore and at least 12 miles away from coral reefs to ensure that it is sufficiently diluted by seawater before reaching any land or marine ecosystems.