Much has been reported about the major Alaska cruise lines struggling to meet the new environmental regulations due to take effect in 2010. The latest development, though, is that it may in fact be impossible for them to do so with current technology.
While there are land-based systems that would help them meet the requirements of the 2010 law, none of them have been adapted to use for cruise vessels. A best guess is that it will take at least two years, if not longer, to enable Alaska cruise ships to take advantage of them. Some new technologies, including a refrigerator-sized system that could remove ammonia from waste water, are still very much in the experimental stage.
Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line seem to be the furthest ahead in working towards satisfying the new requirements. Companies estimate they are spending in the range of $3 million to $5 million on every ship just in water treatment systems. Alaska cruise line standards are much stricter than the city waste water regulations of the ports where they dock.
Source: Juneau Empire