30 



stern, and those cameras go right up into the bridge so there is 

 almost 24-hour-a-day surveillance so that the bridge knows general- 

 ly what is going on. That is kind of a method of making sure that 

 both passengers and crew are abiding by the no-throw rule. 



The other is with respect to when the new employee starts, the 

 general orders or the captain's orders that he receives, the lines 

 have them sign for a copy of that in either Spanish or English so 

 that they cannot say that they didn't understand it, they didn't re- 

 ceive a copy and whatnot. So that they are taken through the 

 orders. There are a number of things, in fairness, in these general 

 orders. It is not just handling garbage. I mean, there are a lot of 

 safety training — various things that they have to do, where their 

 muster station is, that sort of thing. But they are tightened down 

 so that the crew member can't then say, "Well, I didn't know this," 

 or, "I didn't receive it." 



Then on top of that, the captain has to account to shore manage- 

 ment with respect to all aspects of waste disposal. That includes 

 things like keeping records if plastic is burned. We know plastic 

 gets on the ship in provisions and whatnot, and that is a very in- 

 teresting aspect — waste minimization. But when plastic comes on 

 the ship, if it is not there at the end of the cruise, then it had to be 

 burned. If it is burned, we want to see the ashes. And the captain 

 has to record that, and so we are making all of these sorts of ef- 

 forts to try and nail it down to prevent either innocent or inten- 

 tional noncompliance with the policy. 



Mr. Coble. Thank you, Mr. Estes. Mr. Chairman, I feel good 

 about what has transpired here today. I hope that it will bear good 

 fruit. In conclusion, Admiral, I would like maybe six or seven, eight 

 months from now if you can perhaps let the Chairman and me and 

 the others know if you detect any improvement as far as on the 

 part of cruise lines dumping because the word of this hearing is 

 going to be disseminated far and wide. If you might just make a 

 note of that, that maybe six months from now we will see if things 

 look better 



Admiral Henn. I will do that, sir. 



Mr. Coble [continuing], in the waters of our oceans. Thank you, 

 Admiral. Thank you, folks, for being with us. 



Mr. Tauzin. Thank you very much, Mr. Coble. Mr. Hastings, the 

 gentleman from Florida. 



Mr. Hastings. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I would 

 like to associate myself with the remarks just made by the ranking 

 member that I am appreciative of what has gone on here today. We 

 have seen a co-joining of immense forces and resources and an ob- 

 vious manifestation of a problem that exists and remedies that are 

 ongoing and are about to take place. 



I am encouraged, and I would like to say as one, as we all do, 

 that comes from one of the delicately balanced societies, that is, 

 south Florida, and we see plenty of what all of you do. And toward 

 that end, I am persuaded that the cruise line industry is making 

 significant strides, and I am willing to keep my powder dry until 

 such time as I have had an opportunity, Mr. Chairman, to take up 

 on Mr. Estes's offer and that is to really — as I read his testimony, I 

 saw the walk-through of the enormous number of things that they 

 do in point in fact. 



