The Cruise Ship Graveyard is a term used to describe the final resting place of abandoned and retired cruise ships. It’s a place where these vessels are sent to be broken down and recycled or scrapped.
It is estimated that there are over 100 cruise ships currently in the graveyard, with many of them being taken out of service due to rising fuel costs, an oversupply of ships, or lack of demand. The graveyard is located in various spots around the world, including the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and North America.
Cruise ships are typically retired after approximately 20-25 years of use. When they reach their end-of-life date, their owners can no longer make money from them and must decide what to do with them.
In some cases, owners will attempt to sell them for scrap metal or other parts but this often doesn’t yield much money. As a result, many cruise ships end up in the graveyard.
The graveyard is not only a sad sight but can also be dangerous. The derelict ships pose an environmental hazard as they may contain hazardous materials such as asbestos or fuel oil that can seep into nearby waters and land. In addition to this, there have been reports of criminal activities taking place on some of these vessels.
What Is Being Done?
In recent years, governments have started taking action to address the issue of derelict cruise ships and reduce the number in the graveyard. For example, countries such as Norway have implemented legislation requiring ship owners to pay for the disposal and recycling of their vessels once they reach end-of-life status. Other countries are also pushing for similar regulations.
Conclusion
The Cruise Ship Graveyard is a sad sight that highlights how important it is for ship owners to properly dispose of their vessels once they reach end-of-life status. Governments around the world are taking steps to address this issue but more needs to be done in order to reduce the number of derelict cruise ships in our oceans.