Pollution: What is the impact of visiting cruise ships?

A study by campaign group Transport & Environment found the luxury liners accounted for less than a third of vessels visiting the town, but produced 60 per cent of sulphur and nitrogen oxide emissions.

They were also responsible for two-thirds of 'particulate matter' emissions, including dust, soot, smoke and water droplets.

A sample of 29 cruise ships arriving at Greenock Ocean Terminal in 2022 found they produced 76,783 kilograms of emissions compared to 41 container vessels which emitted 37,485kg.

Sixteen cargo vessels produced 8,068kg of pollution, and seven ferries were responsible for 3,228kg.

During their visits the 29 cruise ships were only in Greenock for 1,076 hours, four times less than the 4,598 spent by the cargo ships.

According to Transport & Environment, Greenock is ranked 31 out of 40 UK ports for sulphur emissions, 29 for nitrogen oxide and 27 for particulate matter.

The figures were part of a wider report looking at pollution caused in ports across the UK by shipping.

It found that the most harmful emissions were produced by ships calling at Milford Haven in Wales, Immingham in Lincolnshire, and Southampton on England's south coast.

(Image: George Munro)

Jonathan Hood, UK sustainable shipping manager at Transport & Environment, said: "Cruise ships are highly polluting and a lot of Greenock’s traffic is cruise ships.

"Our study was intended to draw attention the lack of adequate regulations in the UK on shipping emissions.

"The UK’s port towns and cities are being choked by the harmful fumes caused by a shipping industry that, thanks to years of government inaction, has no impetus to change.

"We need to see a rapid switch away from filthy fossil fuels, and ports must set binding targets to implement zero-emission technologies."

Last month a separate Transport & Environment report revealed that liners dubbed "cruisezillas" are getting bigger each year, with a carbon footprint to match.

It found they pumped out 17 per cent more carbon dioxide in 2022 than they did in 2019 and methane emissions shot up 500 per cent over the same period.

Last year was Greenock Ocean Terminal's busiest on record, with 91 vessels calling at the port

In May we revealed how terminal owners Clydeport could earn more than £3million from charges to cruise ships.

Each of the 79 liners expected this year is facing combined fees of around £40,000 when they dock.

Ships are charged £6,115 to berth in Greenock, but bigger boats have to pay extra.

There are additional charges of up to £3,400 an hour if vessels stay over their allotted time.

Ships will also have to pay a £4.20 levy for every passenger they carry, and around 115,000 are expected to arrive in the town this year.

There are further charges of £6,262 for mooring and unmooring, and a £6,097 facility fee to access services in the terminal building.

Waste removal can cost £4,759, and boats must pay £341 to hire a gangway.

Other services, such as baggage handling and loading of stores, must also be paid for.

Last year a £20 million visitor centre at Greenock Ocean Terminal opened, featuring an arrivals and departures hall as well as a museum, restaurant and art gallery.

Greenock Ocean Terminal (Image: Duncan Bryceland)

However there have been concerns that Greenock does not see the full benefit of the cruise trade.

Politicians have called for the Scottish Government to introduce a cruise ship levy which would enable councils to charge ships if they stay overnight in the port.

Trade body Cruise Lines International Association have claimed their ships are more energy efficient than ever, with average emissions per ship having fallen 16 per cent in the last five years.

Ian Cochran, editor of the International Cruise Ship Industry journal, said owners were taking steps to cut back on their pollution and move to renewable fuels.

He added: "Cruise ships are really just giant hotels, so there is going to be some level of energy use.

"Many are now using liquified natural gas to reduce emissions."

Ross Greer, Scottish Green MSP for the West Scotland region, which includes Inverclyde, said: "One cruise ship produces the same amount of carbon emissions as 12,000 cars, and its pollution has a big impact on local air quality.

"Residents are literally breathing in the fumes from the ships, while covering the cost of their impact on local services through council tax.

"We can’t keep ignoring the environmental, financial and public health impact of cruise ships on Greenock.

"The Scottish Greens have secured an agreement to introduce a cruise ship levy. That would at least allow the council to raise money from the visiting ships to invest in local services.

"We want to see that levy take into account more than just the number of passengers.

"The most polluting ships should pay more, a mechanism which would encourage them to reduce the impact they are having on the local environment."

However the Peel Ports Group, which owns the Clydeport facility in Greenock, described the research by Transport & Environment as "of poor quality" and "widely discredited".

A spokesperson said: “The maritime sector has made huge progress towards reducing the environmental impact of its operations.

"While there is still work to do, this poor-quality research from this group, which has been widely discredited by the sector, adds nothing.

“As a port group we’ve reduced our operational greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent in the last three years, thanks in part to electrifying 97 per cent of our vehicle fleet and replacing diesel with biofuels for other plant equipment.

“We are proud to play our part, but it’s important to remember that by its very nature, the emissions created by shipping require an international response, which is why the IMO [Internatinal Maritime Organization] has announced ambitious targets to make the global sector more sustainable.

"In line with our commitment to sustainability, our investment in the Greenock Cruise Terminal is also designed to have a positive impact on local businesses and the broader Scottish economy.”