Lax Canadian regulations create ‘perverse incentive’ for US cruise ships en route to Alaska
The article says:
In Canadian waters, untreated sewage from cruise ships can legally be dumped outside a 12-nautical mile limit under vessel pollution regulations, which can often overlap into critical habitats. Meanwhile, treated sewage – which includes the waste from toilets and greywater from sinks and laundries – can be discharged three nautical miles from shore.
Canadian summary: 12 or more miles you can dump raw sewage; 3 or more miles, treated sewage
What is the US rule?
https://www.epa.gov/vessels-marinas-and-ports/vessel-sewage-…
It is illegal to discharge raw or insufficiently treated sewage within three miles from shore or within a no-discharge zone (where applicable).
This seems like at 4 miles you can dump raw sewage.
I’m not an expert on this, but at first glance it seems Canadian law is more strict.
I may be wrong, but when I was in the Navy and had to determine when to dump sewage I think the rule was 2 miles or greater so I think it has gotten more strict in the past few decades.
Mike