Antarctica’s environmental risks

There are more and more visitors going to Antarctica, many arriving on cruise ships. A leading expert says that the southern pole continent is facing environmental threats from tourism that operates unchecked. Aside from environmental factors, there are safety concerns as well. Alan Hemmings, speaking from Wellington, New Zealand, says that the huge cruise ships sailing the Antarctic Sea are at risk, with crews unfamiliar with the conditions making the possibility of an accident possible.

Using the Golden Princess Cruise liner as an example, Hemmings says that if there was an accident, “It just beggars belief that, even if they got these people to shore after a sinking, there would be any way to take care of them all.” He also noted that while the 210-metre cruise ship returned without incident, the Golden Princess has no ice protection on its hull. “There are those of us who think this should be absolutely required,” he added.

On the environmental side, Hemmings points out the Norwegian cruise ship that spilled 750 litres of diesel fuel into the sea when it ran ashore last February.