I strongly oppose large cruise ships in Virginia waters... “DEQ should give careful consideration to this petition requesting additional regulations for large cruise ships in Virginia waters. Pollution from increasing cruise ship traffic and passenger capacity threatens our coastal ecosystems, Virginia’s seafood industry and public health. These large ships, essentially “floating cities” carrying thousands of passengers, have an environmental impact far greater than other commercial vessels. Existing federal regulations governing cruise ship operations have proved inadequate to safeguard the vital public resources of the Commonwealth. The potential for environmental harm from cruise ships is of particular concern for the Chesapeake Bay, its commercial and recreational fisheries, and the fragile ecosystems that support them.“
