The Scottish Green Party plans to introduce a new tax levy on cruise ships nationwide in an effort to reduce carbon emissions and raise additional funds for local councils. The announcement was made during the party conference held in Dunfermline on Monday, October 30, 2023.

New Levy on Cruise Ships Visiting Scotland

In partnership with the Scottish government and local authorities, Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater announced the intention to introduce the new levy, but with few details yet confirmed.

The idea is that the new taxes would become investment funds in port communities, supporting local retailers and residents that host cruise ship visits. It is also hoped that the taxes might encourage ships to invest more heavily in zero-emission vessels or other environmental upgrades.

“We will work with our partners in Local Government to empower Councils to charge visiting cruise ships a levy,” said Slater. “It will mean communities hosting cruise ships get the investment they deserve, and our aim would also be to encourage greener ships.”

While details of how the levy would be assessed are not yet determined, these intentions seem to indicate a rate that may vary based on ship size, passenger capacity, emissions ratings, or other factors, which could mean different rates for different ships. The length of a visit, time of year, and other factors may also impact levy rates.

“From Ullapool to Greenock, Kirkwall to Edinburgh, Stornoway to Rosyth and many more besides, this will make a massive difference in supporting communities,” said Mark Ruskell, Scottish Greens transport and environment spokesperson. “For all the benefits tourism brings, pressure on infrastructure, services, and how lives of locals in port areas are impacted need properly targeted help and this helps.”

What Impact Do Ships Have?

It is no surprise that cruise ships can have tremendous impacts – both positive and negative – on the communities they visit. While ship visits can be an economic boom to a region with port fees, taxes, and spending from both guests and crew members who go ashore, it is also easy for a large vessel to overwhelm a small port community with a sudden influx of thousands of travelers at once.

Furthermore, more and more communities are citing environmental concerns as reasoning to limit or otherwise control cruise ship visits.

Slater stated the idea that “one ship produces the same amount of carbon emissions as 12,000 cars” – a figure without reference as to its authenticity other than to say “a recent study” determined the comparison. It is true, however, that docked ships that still use their engines do produce large amounts of pollutants, a problem that more and more communities are seeking to eliminate.

A similar bold figure was mentioned in New York City in September during a rally in support of a law to require cruise ships to hook up to shore power.

“What would people say if right behind us, right now, there were 34,400 trucks idling?” asked city councilmember Erik Bottcher said at the rally near the Red Hook cruise terminal on Monday, September 18. “There’d be a lot of cameras here right now, and guess what? Something would be done about it. But that’s how much pollution is being generated by these ships.”

Neither vehicle-comparison number is immediately referenced by a study title or other reporting.

New Trend in Europe Against Harmful Cruise Ships

Despite the benefits that can be had from cruise ship visits, many European communities are seeking to limit visits to protect their communities and local environments from potentially harmful or overwhelming impacts.

For example, Barcelona began implementing a partial ban on cruise ships on October 22, 2023, no longer permitting ships to dock at the northern docks closer to the city center.

Venice has implemented an even stronger ban on cruise ships, no longer permitting any vessels at its docks at the famous St. Mark’s Square. That ban has been in place since August 2021 and is intended not only to curb excessive tourism and pollution, but also to preserve the delicate nature of the City of Bridges.

Another popular Scottish destination, the Orkney Islands, is also investigating limits on cruise ships to better balance the desires of tourists with the needs of local residents, but without an outright ban.

It isn’t just in Europe that cruise ship limits and bans are being implemented or considered. Ports of call in Alaska, Maine, and Florida are all in different stages of cruise ship restrictions, with varying degrees of success and support.

The picturesque town of Sitka, Alaska, known for its scenic views and rich cultural heritage, is currently at the center of a debate surrounding the growing number of cruise ships and cruise ship guests that visit the town each summer. 

For the second time, Sitkan Larry Edwards is seeking to place the issue of visitor limits before the local electorate. The first time around, in September 2023, his petition was denied, as it was confusing, misleading, and incomplete. However, Edwards hopes to have a better chance after making several amendments in October 2023.

Record-Breaking Numbers Spur Action

This summer, Sitka witnessed a vast increase in cruise ship traffic, with vessels bringing in more than half a million guests. This number shattered the previous year’s record and more than doubled any other year’s count. While cruise tourism brings in a vast amount of revenue for local businesses, the petitioner believes that the city is now being overrun. 

Larry Edwards conveyed his concerns, stating to KCAW News: “So what this initiative is about is giving citizens relief from the high numbers we’ve had and getting things back to the normal we had back in the period of 2001 to 2009 when we had a period of high tourism that was very controversial but was stable. It was at a level that was good for business.”

In September, with the support of over 40 co-sponsors, Edwards put forth a petition with a proposal to create a port district and cap the number of cruise visitors at 240,000 for the next summer season. The original petition, which had the support of 40 co-sponsors, was proposed in September 2023.

The petition also mentioned weekly and daily limits for guests. However, the proposition faced rejection in late September. Municipal Attorney Brian Hanson highlighted the reasons, noting that a port district’s establishment through a public vote wasn’t feasible as the assembly has authority over public assets like land. 

Hanson also pointed out ambiguities in the petition concerning how the visitor limits would be implemented, terming it as “confusing, misleading, and incomplete.”

Second Chance for Cruise Ship Limits in Sitka?

Edwards is now taking a second swing at the issue. On October 26, he submitted a revised petition. The core proposition of capping the visitors to 240,000 next summer remains unchanged. 

It would mean that every week, one day there would be space for one-half of Sitka’s population visiting the town by cruise ship (4,500pax), one-day one-third (3000pax), two days at one-quarter (2,250 pax), one-day one-fifth (1,800 pax), one-day one-tenth (900pax), and one day no ships would be allowed in the port.

The total number of visitors each year would be capped at 240,000 visitors from cruise ships would be allowed ashore in Sitka. Cruise ships would also need to apply for a visit permit to Sitka beforehand, making effective cruise itinerary planning challenging for cruise lines.

Instead of creating a port district, the new proposal also advocates for a “tourism” section in the Sitka General Code. The update elaborates on enforcement measures and outlines fines for vessels that exceed their permitted number of persons ashore.

Heavy Fines for Offending Cruise Ships

In the petition, ships that fail to procure the necessary permits, face a $5,000 penalty, with an added stipulation barring them from disembarking passengers until permits are obtained. A cruise ship that exceeds its allotted persons ashore will be fined $10,000 for the first offense and $25,000 for the second. 

A third violation results in the ship’s permit being removed and a year-long landing prohibition in Sitka. This count of offenses does not accumulate across a cruise line’s multiple ships.

Additionally, an unscheduled, non-emergency port call attracts a $25,000 fine, with the offending ship barred from port calls for a year.

With the city having a fortnight to deliberate and decide on the validity of the petition, the path ahead is interesting, as a successful petition could serve as an inspiration for groups looking to limit cruise ship visits elsewhere. For now, it seems that Edwards’s petition could stand a chance.

Addressing potential challenges, Edwards stated, “We’ll have to have a plan B. But as the city attorney said in his rejection letter, he said that the assembly could do what you’re trying to do here. So I think the next step is to put the pressure on the assembly and say, ‘Do something for us for next year.’”

Interestingly, if Edwards’ revised initiative gets the green light, the subsequent vote would only need about 550 signatures, down from the previously required 800. 

Limiting cruise ships visiting Sitka would mean a massive blow for cruise ships sailing to Alaska. The number of cruise ports available in Alaska is already limited, and Sitka has always been a hugely popular call. Finding suitable replacements will be nearly impossible. There will likely be a pushback from the cruise industry, dragging the issue out over a longer period.