A first step was that of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) which, at the end of April 2022, announced its commitment to guarantee a more efficient and sustainable future for the cruise industry, reducing the carbon footprint of navigation and the mooring In its report “Environmental Practices and Technologies 2022”, the CLIA shows the progress of the industry to achieve net zero carbon emissions globally by 2050 and highlights the increase in the number of new construction ships that will be able to use sources of zero emission propulsion when available.
It also indicates the investments destined to equip the ships so that they can be connected to the electrical network of the ports. According to the projections of the international association, more than 15% of the ships that will debut in the next five years will be able to incorporate fuel cells and batteries, and 85% of the new cruise ships (until 2028) will be able to connect to the electrical grid. , which will allow the engines to be turned off when they are docked and avoid emissions.
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At the moment, the fuel that will allow the transition is liquefied natural gas (LNG) which, according to the CLIA study, will be the main source of propulsion for 61% of the ships under construction. Its use means reducing the emission of suspended particles (PM) between 95 and 100%; practically zero sulfur and 85% nitrogen oxides. In addition, all of the new vessels will feature advanced wastewater treatment systems, unlike 78% of the fleet currently in service.
In April 2019, the AiDAnova cruise ship, from Grupo Costa, was inaugurated in the port of Barcelona, ??the first ship in the world powered by LNG. It was followed by the AIDAcosma, from the same company, and already in North America, the Mardi Gras, from Carnival Cruise Line. In 2027 it is expected that at least 26 ships powered by LNG will sail. The Port of Barcelona is the arrival and departure point for these cruises thanks to its commitment to LNG and is the first bunkering port for this gas in the entire Spanish and Mediterranean port system.
The Costa Group, the main cruise operator in Europe, goes further and announced in April 2022 that it was beginning to test the use of biofuel on board one of the AIDA Cruises ships. In July of last year, the AIDAprima became the first large-scale cruise ship to use a blend of marine biofuel, which is made from 100% sustainable raw materials, such as used cooking oil, and marine diesel oil (MGO) during her scale in Rotterdam, according to the Hosteltur portal.
MSC Cruises is also committed to sustainability with the MSC World Europe, which came into service at the end of last year. It is the first of the company to be powered by LNG and the most advanced to date from an environmental point of view. MSC Cruises’ second LNG ship, MSC Euribia, will be delivered in June 2023, while the third, MSC World America, is currently under construction for delivery in 2025. Its Sustainability Action Plan sets out six key lines of work: transition to net zero emissions, research on the use of resources and waste, support for people, investment in sustainable tourism, construction of greener terminals and sustainable purchases.
The Costa Group, the main cruise operator in Europe, goes further and announced in April 2022 that it was beginning to test the use of biofuel on board one of the AIDA Cruises ships. In July of last year, the AIDAprima became the first large-scale cruise ship to use a blend of marine biofuel, which is made from 100% sustainable raw materials, such as used cooking oil, and marine diesel oil (MGO) during her scale in Rotterdam, according to the Hosteltur portal.
MSC Cruises is also committed to sustainability with the MSC World Europe, which came into service at the end of last year. It is the first of the company to be powered by LNG and the most advanced to date from an environmental point of view. MSC Cruises’ second LNG ship, MSC Euribia, will be delivered in June 2023, while the third, MSC World America, is currently under construction for delivery in 2025. Its Sustainability Action Plan sets out six key lines of work: transition to net zero emissions, research on the use of resources and waste, support for people, investment in sustainable tourism, construction of greener terminals and sustainable purchases.
Cruise ships have become a good example of a circular economy at scale, with efficient management of water, energy and waste. There are already many who have machines in charge of waste management, especially surpluses or food remains, which transform them into compost to use, for example, as fertilizer in nurseries, gardens and farms. As for water, there are ships like the Wonder of the Seas that can accommodate 7,000 passengers on board and with a crew of 2,300 people, which has a water treatment plant that recycles wastewater and seawater, so that the ship is capable of to be self-sufficient by making 90% of the water drinkable. In addition, thanks to an artificial intelligence system, it is possible to reduce the amount of food that is thrown away. Costa Cruises also, in its latest sustainability report, reported that selective collection and recycling of 100% of materials such as plastic, paper, glass and aluminum is carried out on all the ships in the fleet.
In addition, 90% of the daily water needs are covered by transforming that of the sea through the use of desalinators, a value that reaches 100% in the most modern vessels in the fleet. The sustainability of the sector is key if the forecasts for this year are observed. The CLIA forecasts that in 2023 the main European ports will reach 48.6 million cruise passengers, and Spain will concentrate almost 20% of the total volume. The figures are still below those of 2019 but are expected to grow, so that responsible management of resources and the total decarbonization of fleets is essential to achieve a cleaner future that is in line with passenger demands. who want to travel minimizing their ecological footprint.
