MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Heavy fuel ban expected to halve Antarctic cruise-only passengers by 2012

Steve Wellmeier from the International Association of Antarctica Tourism Operators said the organization supports the principles behind the ban

Beginning in August 2011, most large cruise ships will no longer be able to sail in Antarctica. The International Maritime Organization last week adopted a ban on using and carrying heavy fuel oil on ships operating in Antarctic waters.

The regulation, which was expected to be adopted, essentially bans cruise ships with more than 500 passengers from sailing in Antarctica, because even though they would agree to use lighter fuels there, the ban on carriage would prove too costly for those vessels.

The largest cruise ships that cruise Antarctic waters can carry more than 2,000 passengers, operated by lines like Princess Cruises and Holland America Line. Those ships do cruise-only trips to Antarctica, not allowing passengers to disembark, but getting close enough for them to see Antarctic land, observe penguins and encounter icebergs.

Cruise operators, represented by the International Association of Antarctica Tourism Operators, support the principles behind the ban, said Steve Wellmeier, IAATO's executive director.

“Largely, it will be the large cruise-only vessels that are affected, rather than the smaller expedition ships that most people think of as Antarctic cruising,” Wellmeier said.

According to IAATO, the number of cruise-only passengers that will visit Antarctic waters is expected to fall from 15,531 this past Antarctica season to 6,400 once the ban takes effect.

The smaller ships use light marine gas oil, which is less harmful than many fuels and dissipates quickly in water, posing less environmental damage in the event of a leak.

In 2005, the Antarctic Treaty Parties requested that the IMO restrict use of heavy fuel in Antarctic waters due to the risk of an oil spill in the event of a collision with an iceberg.

Several incidents over the last few years raised concerns about such incidents as sailings increased in popularity, including the sinking of one expedition vessel after colliding with an iceberg.