Kretschmann, LutzLutzKretschmann2022-03-122022-03-122014https://publica.fraunhofer.de/handle/publica/386183Cruise tourism has experienced a remarkable increase in popularity over the past decades. At the same time the industry's growth is coupled with an increase in concerns about the impact cruise operations have on the marine environment. Recently mounting public pressure has led to a successful introduction of new legislation governing shipping. However, the public and scientific debate mainly focusses on air emissions and ballast water. As it is the case at present less attention is paid to wastewater discharges by passenger vessels, despite a recent designation of the Baltic Sea as a first Special Area under MARPOL Annex IV. This paper aims to contribute to the discussion on changing ocean governance as a consequence of an increase in societal awareness towards sustainability. Within a case study it describes the development leading to the first Special Area under MARPOL Annex IV as an example of how societal demands can result in stricter ocean governance. Based on this the paper analyses the new requirements in the Baltic Sea in comparison to the existing regulatory environment governing wastewater discharges by ships, determines how they affect the cruise industry and discusses what impact they have regarding environmental pollution. Further the paper argues why it is in the own interest of cruise operators to adopt sustainability as a guiding principle of their activities and shows how the industry responds in this context by increasingly implementing advanced environmental management practices.enKreuzschifffahrtNachhaltigkeitMARPOL Annex IVOstseeAbwasser658338presentation