Page 55 - SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2016

SEA ENVIRONMENT 55

Water is a precious resource

There are 17 United Nations Sustainable In 2016, 66.2% of the water used was Wastewater management
Development Goals. Number 6 is Clean produced in this way, compared with 69%
water and sanitation. Water is vital for life the previous reporting period; the decrease Treatment of the wastewater produced
and every eff ort must be made to conserve was mainly due to the introduction of new on board is a particularly delicate
it and prevent wastage and pollution. Costa cruise routes. management issue in relation both to the
Cruises is well aware of the need to respect The fact that less water is bunkered in ports impacts generated directly on the marine
33.8% and protect water resources, and accordingly of call is very important, especially in areas environment and to the protection of

WATER BUNKERED works constantly in order to research and where water resources are scarce. It goes the health and safety of workers. Not all
FROM PORT FACILITIES
develop more advanced systems so as to without saying that the water produced the water used on board can be recycled
reduce consumption and promote recycling. on board is suitably treated, disinfected for other uses; in such case it must be
and made safe to drink in compliance with specifi cally treated and disposed of in
Meeting the demand for water international public health regulations. Costa compliance with strict procedures so as to
sustainably Cruises has always prioritized the effi cient prevent polluting discharge. Costa Cruises
management of water resources focused uses advanced wastewater treatment
The Company’s largest commitment in this on maximizing reuse (with regard to the systems, deliberately designed to go above
area is the gradual increase in the amount of engine cooling water system) for cleaning and beyond regulatory requirements. The
water produced directly on board. of cabins and public areas (e.g. pools). In type of treatment depends on the kind of
Indeed, most of the water on the ships for addition, the Company arranges awareness- water – namely bilge water, gray water,
human use is produced on board by means raising activities to limit consumption and ballast water and sewage (fl ush water and
66.2% of special desalination plants. The percentage encourage the responsible use of water by liquid waste). The Warka Water Project
of water generated on board from seawater guests and crew.
WATER PRODUCED Costa Cruises’ commitment to responsible water management is also translated
ON BOARD varies from ship to ship depending on a In exceptional cases like an emergency, it
range of factor such as the itinerary, cruising is always possible that a spill or discharge into practical action facilitating access for local communities in places where
ready availability to this vital resource is not possible and basic infrastructure and
speed, sea and weather conditions, and the of wastewater may occur (at sea or in hygiene are lacking. One example of this is Costa’s decision to support the Warka
type of equipment installed. port). Any spill or discharge constituting Water Project.
an environmental incident is reported Warka Water, a water tower designed by architect Arturo Vittori that is
immediately to the competent authorities handmade with natural materials, captures large quantities of potable water from
in the port/territorial waters where it the air by collecting rain, harvesting fog and dew. The 9-meter high tower has a
Towards potable water self-suffi ciency occurred and results in an administrative reticular structure with a triangulated frame made from reeds, a natural material
sanction. In 2016 there were 4 spills of that is readily available, and it can be easily built by local people. Inside the tower
lubricating oil, treated sewage and gray is a network made of a special fabric and polyethylene textile designed to collect
One of the Company’s strategic objectives is to be totally self-suffi cient for potable water by taking on and processing seawater. The water, and all four were minor incidents up to 100 liters of drinking water per day by means of condensation. The name
highly innovative prototype installation (operating on board the Costa Serena from 2017) is the result of a joint venture between Carnival dealt with by the shipboard personnel, of the project “Warka” – chosen by the architect – comes from the Warka Tree,
Maritime and Presentwater AS. The new hybrid water production system, which is extremely attractive in terms of its environmental who are regularly trained to take all a giant wild fi g tree native to Ethiopia which is traditionally a symbol of fertility
benefi ts, eliminates the need for water bunkering from port facilities and for a ballast water treatment system. Seawater taken on by the possible steps to clean up and minimize and generosity. In rural Ethiopian culture the tree is also a gathering place for the
Costa Serena in the open sea will be fi ltered, disinfected, preheated and intermediately stored for further processing through a hyperfi lter the environmental impact of a spill in line community. Costa Cruises will transport the fi rst Warka Water tower on board one
reverse osmosis plant before the permeate is chlorinated, all in compliance with US Public Health regulations. Once the system is installed with Company procedures. No grievances of the ships in its fl eet operating in Madagascar and will provide assistance with its
fl eetwide, water bunkering will be a thing of the past, with signifi cant savings also by avoiding oil-fi red boiler consumption to produce steam about environmental impacts were fi led by installation in the village school at Tapakala, a place featured on the Company’s
and BWMS installation. shore tour program.
stakeholders during the reporting period.