Cruise tourism is constantly growing, which has a direct impact on pollution. In fact, they are cities navigating the sea, with the consequent energy expenditure. According to Faig Abbasov, director of transport policies at Transport & Enviroment, very contradictory policies are being pursued in Europe in relation to ecology: "While cities are banning diesel cars, in the fleet they have not grabbed their hand at all. These lead to high concentrations of pollutants that are very dangerous for travellers and citizens; it is unacceptable.”

In addition to the serious emission of sulphur oxide, the emission of nitrogen oxides is also a concern. 15% of the nitrogen oxide generated by passenger vehicles in Europe in one year is produced by cruise tourism. On the coasts of Norway, Greece, France, Croatia, Denmark and Malta, cruise ships emitted more nitrogen oxides than all of their cars.

Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca and Venice are the cities most affected by this type of tourism.

Sea trips in the Basque Country

As in the whole of Europe, cruise tourism in Euskal Herria is increasing year by year. The summer season has already begun, and the port of Pasaia was the first to receive it on May 29. The Sea Cloud II will be back in the port of Pasaia next August. The Port Authority of Bilbao is not to expand its cruise terminal located in Getxo. As a result of this expansion, this type of boat will make 60 scales by 2020.

Knowing what the tourist boats really pollute, and seeing that in the port of Bilbao the number of these boats will increase, the port of Bilbao reaffirms its “green commitment”: “The Port Authority of Bilbao has implemented an integrated system of quality management, prevention and the environment that meets the demands and expectations of all the interest groups with which it relates”, they point out, but have not yet clarified this public transport.