Ambassador Changes Itinerary to Allow for Fresh Water Supply – Cruise Industry News

Incident Report: Ambassador Cruise Line Itinerary Adjustment

Executive Summary

An operational adjustment was made to the Ambassador Cruise Line vessel, Ambition, during its 11-night British Isles voyage commencing July 19. The modification was necessitated by a shortfall in fresh water supplies loaded at the port of Newcastle. To ensure adherence to hygiene standards and guest comfort without imposing water conservation measures, the vessel’s itinerary was altered to facilitate the replenishment of fresh water. This incident highlights the critical intersection of cruise operations with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).

Analysis of Operational Challenges and SDG Alignment

Water Management and Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)

The core of the operational challenge relates directly to the management of water resources, a central theme of SDG 6. The cruise line’s response demonstrates an active approach to ensuring access to clean water and sanitation for all on board.

• Resource Scarcity: The vessel was unable to load its standard volume of fresh water at the start of the cruise, illustrating the importance of reliable and resilient water infrastructure in port cities, a key target of SDG 6.
• Onboard Production Technology: The Ambition is equipped with evaporators and reverse osmosis systems to produce fresh water from the sea. This technology represents a significant contribution to sustainable water management and self-sufficiency, aligning with SDG 6’s emphasis on innovative water solutions.
• Shore-Based Supplementation: The reliance on shore supplies to supplement onboard production underscores the symbiotic relationship between maritime operations and land-based infrastructure. The decision to reroute to a port capable of providing water reinforces the need for sustainable infrastructure (SDG 9) to support global industries.
• Proactive Itinerary Change: By altering the port call schedule, the cruise line proactively managed its water stocks to maintain normal services and sanitation standards, thereby upholding its commitment to the well-being of its passengers and crew, in line with SDG 6.

Commitment to Environmental Stewardship and SDG 14 (Life Below Water)

The company’s operational protocols for water production also reflect a commitment to environmental protection and the principles of SDG 14.

• Operational Constraints: The policy of not operating onboard water production systems in all ports and sea areas for safety and hygiene reasons is a precautionary measure.
• Marine Ecosystem Protection: This practice can be interpreted as a measure to prevent any potential negative impact on sensitive coastal and marine ecosystems, contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans as mandated by SDG 14.

Itinerary Modification and Logistical Response

The logistical response to the water supply issue involved a direct modification of the planned itinerary. This demonstrates adaptive management to ensure operational continuity and resource security.

1. Original Itinerary: The vessel was scheduled to call at Fowey on July 25 and Portland on July 26.
2. Revised Itinerary: To secure fresh water supplies in a timely manner, the order was reversed. The Ambition will now call at Portland on July 25 and Fowey on July 26.
3. Stakeholder Collaboration: The Destinations Experience team is actively collaborating with local agents in the affected ports to revise shore excursion offerings. This highlights the economic link between the cruise industry and local communities, touching upon SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Conclusion: Prioritizing Sustainability and Guest Welfare

The itinerary adjustment by Ambassador Cruise Line serves as a case study in managing operational challenges while aligning with global sustainability principles. The decision to procure additional water, rather than enforce restrictions, prioritized guest comfort and safety. This incident underscores the broader context in which the cruise industry operates, balancing logistical needs with environmental and social responsibilities.

• The event highlights the critical importance of resilient port infrastructure (SDG 9, SDG 11) for supporting sustainable tourism.
• Onboard technologies like reverse osmosis are key innovations for responsible resource consumption and production (SDG 12).
• Proactive and transparent management of resources demonstrates a commitment to ensuring clean water and sanitation (SDG 6) while respecting marine environments (SDG 14).

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article discusses issues related to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the lens of a cruise ship’s operational challenge in securing fresh water. The following SDGs are relevant:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  This is the most direct SDG addressed. The entire article revolves around the challenge of providing a continuous and sufficient supply of fresh water for the passengers and crew of the Ambition cruise ship. The company’s decision to alter its itinerary is a direct action to ensure water availability and sanitation standards are maintained.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  The article highlights the role of technology and infrastructure in water management. It mentions the ship’s onboard systems (“evaporators and reverse osmosis equipment”) as a form of innovative infrastructure for water production. It also underscores the reliance on port infrastructure (“shore supplies”) to supplement onboard capabilities, showing the interplay between industrial operations and supporting infrastructure.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  The situation described is a case study in managing the consumption of a vital natural resource—water. The cruise line’s need to balance onboard production with external supplies, and the potential for water conservation measures (“ask everyone onboard to conserve water”), directly relate to achieving sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  The article implies a connection to this goal by stating that the ship’s water production systems are not used in all sea areas for “safety and hygiene reasons.” This suggests an awareness of the quality of the source seawater and a potential operational constraint designed to prevent harm to the ship’s systems or to avoid operating in polluted waters, which is related to the health of marine ecosystems.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, the following specific targets can be identified:

1. Target 6.1: Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.

   The cruise line’s primary goal is to provide uninterrupted access to fresh water for its “population” (guests and crew). The statement, “this alteration will allow us to maintain normal stocks of fresh water and avoid potential restrictions,” shows a direct effort to ensure universal access within the ship’s community.

2. Target 6.4: Substantially increase water-use efficiency and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater.

   The article describes a system that combines onboard water production with shore supplies, which is a strategy for managing water supply. The potential need to “conserve water” if supplies were not replenished highlights the focus on water-use efficiency and ensuring a sustainable supply to avoid scarcity.

3. Target 12.2: Achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.

   The cruise line’s actions are a direct attempt at the sustainable management of water. By rerouting to secure more water instead of immediately imposing rationing, the company is managing its resources to maintain service standards, demonstrating a practice of resource management.

4. Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies.

   The mention of “evaporators and reverse osmosis equipment” points to the adoption of specific technologies for resource efficiency (producing fresh water at sea). The incident also reveals the limitations of this infrastructure, reinforcing the need for resilient and adaptable systems.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article implies several indicators that could be used to measure progress:

• Indicator for Target 6.1: Continuity of water supply.

  The article implies this indicator through the company’s goal to “avoid potential restrictions” and “maintain normal services.” Progress could be measured by the percentage of time that water is supplied without restrictions to all on board.

• Indicator for Target 6.4: Volume of water sourced from shore supplies versus onboard production.

  The article distinguishes between water produced on the ship and water loaded from shore (“we use shore supplies to supplement our stock”). An indicator of water-use efficiency and sustainability would be the ratio of water produced onboard to water taken from municipal supplies, with a higher ratio indicating greater self-sufficiency.

• Indicator for Target 12.2: Implementation of water conservation plans.

  The fact that the company considered asking passengers “to conserve water” implies the existence of a conservation plan. An indicator would be the activation or avoidance of such plans. In this case, the successful rerouting to avoid conservation measures is a positive performance indicator.

• Indicator for Target 14.1 (and 9.4): Operational status of onboard water production systems based on geographical location.

  The statement that “systems are not used in all ports and sea areas” for safety reasons implies a policy is in place. An indicator would be the number or percentage of operational hours where onboard production is halted due to environmental or safety protocols, measuring the company’s adherence to environmentally sound practices.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: cruiseindustrynews.com