problems and solutions

Fair Sailing advocates an approach to cruise tourism that prioritizes the interests of residents, local businesses and the environment of Victoria, Canada’s busiest cruise ship port-of-call.

Fair Sailing is focused on harmful cruise industry practices that impact the portside residential neighbourhood, the Victoria region, and our air and ocean environment: Overtourism, Air & Ocean Pollution, Cruise Garbage.

Fair Sailing believes it’s time to ‘rethink cruise tourism’ in Victoria. We have an opportunity for transformative change of cruise travel from a low-value, mass-tourism approach to a sustainable and responsible tourism model for Victoria.

what does fair sailing propose?

Fair Sailing focuses on four priority areas of Overtourism, Air Pollution, Ocean Pollution, and Foreign Garbage. We outline current negative impacts and actions needed below.

priority area: actions needed:

Overtourism

Includes overcrowding, traffic congestion/surges, and noise, with limited economic benefits

Air Pollution

Cruise ships running engines 24/7 contribute greenhouse gases and disperse emissions of sulphur dioxide, particulate matter, NOx and volatile organic compounds

Ocean Pollution

Cruise ships using heavy bunker fuel release large amounts of pollutants from scrubbers into the marine environment, including heavy metals and toxic contaminants

Foreign Garbage

Comprises solid and liquid wastes offloaded in Victoria from cruise ships, and transported to our local landfill and out of region/off-island

 

Harbour Operations

Maximum:

  • two ships in port per day

  • 5,000 cruise ship passengers per day

• Staggered arrivals and departures

• All ships must arrive after 7:30 am and depart by 10 pm to respect Quiet Hours

• Maximum five days/week with cruise calls to provide community with cruise-free days

• Use lowest-sulphur fuels possible to reduce pollutants when entering port, maneuvering, and at berth

Land Transportation Operations

• No highway buses for cruise passenger transportation through James Bay

• ‘handyDART’ type buses for passengers who must use transit to downtown

• Speed enforcement for all cruise ship-related transport

• Rules of Conduct for pedicab/rickshaw operators and passengers

Stop Polluting the Air

  • Use lowest sulphur fuels NOW

  • Apply Polluter Pay Principle to Cruise Lines – use sustainable fuels, like green hydrogen, install shore power if/when feasible – without taxpayer subsidies

Stop Polluting the Ocean

  • Use lowest sulphur fuels possible to reduce pollutants when entering port, maneuvering, and at berth  

  • Ban use of scrubber wash water discharges at Ogden Point and in the Port of Victoria immediately, and enforce compliance

  • Ban use of scrubbers in all Canadian waters

No More Foreign Garbage

  • cease all landing of foreign cruise ship waste materials in Victoria

  • return all solid and liquid waste, including garbage, recyclables, organics, and hazardous materials to port-of-origin

  • Until foreign waste ceases to be landed, full public disclosure of all waste materials offloaded, and their end destinations