The Mediterranean Sea is among the most polluted in the world. Every year, more than 200 million people visit its shores, and according to WWF estimates, the amount of marine litter might grow by up to 40% during peak season. The basin is currently regarded as a global hotspot for plastic pollution: more than 570,000 tons of plastic enter the Mediterranean each year, equivalent to almost 30,000 bottles each minute. In this context, there is a growing interest in measures that can reduce maritime tourism’s environmental impact. Luxury Sailing, a firm created in Olbia in 2019 as part of the LM Company group and specializing in catamaran cruises, has opted to address one of the most important aspects of living onboard: water and plastic use. To reduce the usage of disposable bottles on cruises, the business designed and implemented a technology that allows drinking water to be created directly on board from seawater. The procedure begins with the extraction and filtering of saltwater, followed by antibacterial treatments with sterilizing and activated carbon filtration to remove odors and organic residue. Water is purified by removing salts, metals, and contaminants. Once purified, it is remineralized with calcium, magnesium, and potassium. It can be supplied straight from the onboard tap, still or sparkling. “Our goal was to address one of the most impactful habits of life on board”, says Lorenzo Tawakol, the founder of Luxury Sailing. “The production of drinkable water on board results in a reduction in plastic, logistics, and bottled transportation, as well as an enhancement of the guest experience”.
News Source: 9Colonne
