As the cruise industry starts to steam ahead again — at least in Europe for now — Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) members are looking to not only survive well into the future but also better the environment along the way. The organization’s latest Global Cruise Industry Environmental Technologies and Practices Report speaks specifically to lowering emissions, increasing efficiencies and creating a cleaner setting onboard, at sea and on shore.
“Even as we have worked to address and overcome the impacts of COVID-19, the cruise industry remains committed to a cleaner, more sustainable future,” said Kelly Craighead, president and CEO of CLIA, in a press release. “With over $23 billion invested in ships with new technologies and cleaner fuels, such as exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) and liquified natural gas (LNG), I can only imagine what we will accomplish together in the next 10 years and beyond. This report affirms our commitment to environmental sustainability, and I commend our members for their continued leadership and demonstration of the highest standards of responsible tourism.”
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Notable bullet points include the objective to reduce the rate of carbon emissions by 40% from 2008 numbers in time for 2030. To that end, the annual 2020 report shows that 49% of newbuild capacity will employ LNG for their main propulsion. Also reported are more than 69% of global capacity using EGCS to meet or exceed air emissions requirements. The majority (96%) of non-LNG newbuilds will have EGCS installed.
What’s more, 99% of newbuilds will have advanced wastewater treatment systems. Already, 70% of the CLIA oceangoing fleet is supplied with such systems. Plus, 75% of newbuild capacity will either launch with shore-side electricity systems (sometimes referred to as cold ironing) or will be outfitted to install it at a later date. Similarly, 32% of global capacity is already capable of shutting off engines and plugging in to shore-side electricity at 14 ports around the world.
Even as we have worked to address and overcome the impacts of COVID-19, the cruise industry remains committed to a cleaner, more sustainable future.
“The cruise industry works every day to advance its responsible tourism efforts and recognizes that continued and greater investment in research is critical to identifying and producing new fuels and propulsion systems,” said Adam Goldstein, chairman of CLIA Global, in a press release. “This is why CLIA along with other maritime sector partners have proposed to establish and fund a $5 billion Research and Development Board dedicated to working collaboratively across the sector to identify the technologies and energy sources that will provide additional opportunities to lessen our environmental footprint and meet the ambitious goals set by the International Maritime Organization.”
The Details
Cruise Lines International Association
www.cruising.org
