The TSS Earnslaw's smoke discharge has again been subject to criticism.
Following an Otago Daily Times column discussing air pollution, a reader responded that Queenstowners were having to "put up with the continuous choking from soot and smoke discharged from the TSS Earnslaw".
The reader stated the Otago Regional Council did not consider it to be a problem.
The ORC said compliance staff were aware of the issue and the boat was trialling different coal blends due to the loss of the usual coal supplier.
Real Journeys chief executive officer Richard Lauder said that was untrue and the boat had used the same coal for several years, apart from "one-day trials" to "continuously improve environmental performance".
"There have been no changes to coal, but regular tests occur one day at a time.
"Our one-day trials have been promising and have not produced five-times more smoke."
