Air emissions from a cruise ship docked in Lyttelton Harbour have prompted an investigation by local authorities following a wave of community concern.
Environment Canterbury said it had received a number of enquiries on Wednesday regarding emissions from the vessel.
“We are closely monitoring the discharge and are working with Maritime NZ who is the agency responsible for the prevention of air pollution from ships,” an Environment Canterbury spokesperson said.
Lyttelton Port Company (LPC) confirmed it had contacted the cruise ship Celebrity Edge after concerns were raised by the public.
A spokesperson for Lyttelton Port Company said, “they have confirmed that a closed-loop exhaust cleaning system is operational onboard.”
Photo: Stephen Mateer
“Lyttelton Port Company is closely monitoring air emissions at several locations around the port, including particulate matter, sulphur oxide, and nitrogen oxide.
“Results will be shared with the community once the monitoring process is complete,” the spokesperson said.
Local resident Zoë Brock was among those raising concerns.
In a social media post shared to a Lyttelton community page, she criticised what she described as the repetitive defence that “it’s a Working Port.”
“Steam, they say. It’s a Working Port, they drone. On and on (and on and on),” she wrote.
“The fact is, it can remain a Working Port while still doing absolutely everything to be environmentally and physically safe for the citizens who love to live here, and the wildlife who help the planet go around.”
“Every single bee and bit of plankton is important to our survival. This ship billowing poison? Not so much.”
Brock said while the port made money from Whakaraupō, it did not own it. “They share Whakaraupō. And when toxic smoke infects our air it becomes an all of us problem.”
She questioned the reaction from some who defended the cruise industry. “Why are the citizens who call out these ships for spewing pollution mocked and derided and told to leave Lyttelton?”
Brock said dismissive responses often came from people who “sound like people who have never tried to effect change for good.”
“Change happens when WE make it happen. That’s the beauty of it.”
“If these ships are going to continue to come here, one solution is to force them to plug in – as they do in many places like Vancouver, LA, Brooklyn, San Diego, Seattle, and even Miami.”
“Come on, if even the fourth most evil and stupid man in America – Ron DeSantis – gets it, why can’t we?”
Her comments were met with support from other residents, many of whom echoed her frustrations and called for stricter environmental regulations at the port.
The arrival of the cruise ship marked the final scheduled docking of the season.
