Cruise passengers are being blamed for polluting the seas of Spanish tourist hotspot Mallorca – by using too much suncream. Marine experts have pointed the finger at sunshine-loving Brits and stated how the lotion, which is an essential protector against sunburn and skin cancers, is killing off sea life. They cite the danger happens as the creams are being washed off when tourists go swimming in the onboard pools and are later discharged into the ocean, when the water is emptied. When Palma’s main port is viewed from the sky, slicks of suncream can be spotted in the sea on at least six occasions, according to experts – Additional reporting by Rita Sobot.
The Ministry of Health insists there has been no danger to people’s health but some experts say it is creating pollution for marine life on the shores.
According to Spanish media TV Cadena Sur, there have been six environmental pollution alerts in Palma since 2010, the last one on July 8, 2019.
The Ministry of Development confirmed that these discharges are due to the large amount of cosmetics, in particular sun creams, which are mixed with the water of the pools.
Once detected, the ship causing the stain has to be inspected in the port.
All six liners in a recent Palma port were found to be within the regulations for discharges and were not sanctioned.
Campaign group Ecologists in Action stated: “Cruises are floating cities with a high consumption of energy generated by the most toxic fuels that exist.
“While cities are prohibiting the circulation of diesel cars to reduce the pollution that their population breathes, they are giving free rein to the shipping companies, which cause large concentrations of pollutants with a high risk to the health of their passengers and the nearest populations.
“It is unacceptable.”
The Ministry of Development has confirmed that all the ships involved in these incidents have been tourist cruises, with the water having come from its swimming pools, showers, kitchens or the ship’s laundry.
They say the concentration of harmful substances is so small that their discharge into the sea is considered safe for the marine environment.
However, on the six occasions that affected Palma, and after inspections of the ship and analysis of the discharged water, a massive presence of paraffin hydrocarbons was detected.
They are alterations of the pH levels of the swimming pool waters as a result of the presence of cosmetic products (mainly sunscreen) with which the cruise passengers enter the swimming pools, according to the Ministry of Public Works.
To check pollution from cruise ships, the Spanish Government recently announced it intends to use drones.
The devices will start flying around the liner funnels from next year in a bid to adhere to new European legislation over sulphur emissions.
Sensors will detect whether they exceed the maximum permitted level of 0.5%, which will be required as of January 1st, 2020.
In June, it was revealed that the ports of Barcelona, Palma, Venice, Civitavecchia in Italy and Southampton suffer the most pollution in Europe due to the presence of cruise ships, and Spain, Italy, Greece, France and Norway are the countries most exposed to the pollution generated by liners.
Meanwhile, Express.co.uk recently reported how cruise ship passengers will be impacted by an investigation into the “over tourism” of vessels in historic hotspots.