Environmental watchdog will monitor cruise ship bunker fuel emissions while vessels are in Tasmania's ports.
A record number of cruise liners will dock at ports in Tasmania this summer, causing division within tourism industry and raising environmental concerns.
Cruise ships' number has more than doubled in 2 years and 138 vessels are scheduled to visit Burnie, Macquarie Wharf, Port Arthur and Wineglass Bay, starting this October.
Some of the ships will burn bunker fuel while at port, which is a cheap low-grade fuel emitting sulphur dioxide.
For the first time, EPA (Environment Protection Authority) will monitor air quality around port of Hobart to detect if ships are polluting at harmful levels. The air will be tested every 10 minutes.
According to EPA director Wes Ford, he would be taking cruise companies to task in case ships were unnecessarily burning the fuel.
Hobart City Council Greens Alderman Helen Burnet wants authorities to go further and follow port of Sydney in banning low-grade fuel to be burnt when at port in Hobart.
Burnett said she would push the council to write to the Federal and State governments calling for a ban.