How Sustainable is Cruising Today?

How Environmentally Friendly is Your Cruise Holiday in 2023/2024?

This question nags at many of us I know; none of us want to harm our planet, after all, but how do we balance that concern with our desire for travel?

I recently completed my Cruise Master Accreditation with the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA).. As part of my study I explored sustainability within the cruise industry, and I must admit to being surprised at some of the facts I learnt. This included just how much cruise lines are investing in environmental technologies onboard and protecting ocean habitats to make cruising more sustainable. I’d like to share these with you, to reassure you that your favourite holiday can still be an ecologically-sound option.

CLIA - An Agent for Change

The Cruise Line International Association which represents 95% of the World’s ocean going cruise capacity, use their influence to help drive forward the sustainability agenda amongst its membership cruise lines today and for the future.

Cruise Ship Sustainability Facts - The Present

Admirably, there is an industry vision of net zero carbon cruising globally by 2050. CLIA’s Annual Report 2022 highlights the current changes across the cruise industry.

Here are the headline facts:

Image: CLIA

• There are 11 Liquid Natural Gas (LNG)-powered ocean cruise vessels sailing today;

• 23 further LNG-powered ships on order;

• 78% of the CLIA Global fleet equipped with advanced wastewater treatment facilities (an increase of 9% since 2021);

• Newer ships - the average age of the ships in the CLIA ocean-going ships is 14.1 - that’s four years younger than other cruise ships sailing;

• 79% of CLIA global capacity uses exhaust gas cleaning systems (up 7% sine 2021);

• 40% of CLIA ocean ships have the ability to connect to shoreside electricity (an increase of 20% since 2021).

  Cruise Ship Sustainability Facts - The Future 

  By 2028, the CLIA ocean-going fleet will include:

• 32 Ships powered by LNG technology - in fact 61% of CLIA ships will rely on LNG for primary propulsion;

• 171 CLIA cruise ships equipped with exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) - 88%of capacity of non-LNG new-build ships will have EGCS;

• 209 CLIA cruise ships equipped with shoreside power connectivity (SSE) - 98% of new-build capacity will have or be able to add SSE in the future;

• 235 CLIA cruise ships equipped with advanced wastewater treatment systems (AWTS) - 100% of new-build CLIA ships are specified to have AWTS.

  Protecting the Ocean and the Environment

  Were you aware that each year every ship receives multiple announced and unannounced inspections to ensure that the implementation of strict environmental and safety regulations is adhered to? These regulations are set by authorities such as the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), International Labour Organisation ILO) and National Maritime amongst others. As well as the following practices for improving the impact of cruising, some ships’ hulls have been given a special coating to reduce friction and improve fuel consumption.

  What are Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (EGCS)?

  The cruise industry have designed and installed exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) on ships to reduce emissions by as much as 98 percent from a ship's exhaust. 

  It is worth noting, perhaps, that it can be estimated that the average cruise ship passenger emits 0.82 tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent for their cruise. This is equivalent to a return air trip from London to Tokyo in economy class. Cruise ship emissions make up 0.2% of all global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion and cement production.

  What is LNG-Power?

  Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is a more environmentally friendly way to power cruise ships, as its one of cleanest burning marine fuels. LNG can reduce a cruise ship's carbon emission by approximately 30%, sulphur emissions by 99%-100%, nitrogen oxide by 90% and largely eliminates particulate matter from the ship's exhaust. 

  What is Shoreside Electricity (SSE)

  Shoreside Electricity (SSE) allows a ship to “plug in” to the power ashore where available. It allows the energy load to be transferred to a shoreside source, without disruption to onboard services. This means that the ship's engines can be shut down for the duration of its stay in port. According to the Port of Seattle, on average, each ship that plugs in at a port can reduce diesel emissions by 80% and carbon dioxide emissions by 66%. Whilst around 40% of ships are already fitted to use SSE (and 98% of new builds will have or will be able to add SSE), currently there are only 29 ports (less than 2%) worldwide offering this capability.

  
  What is an Advanced Wastewater Treatment System (AWTS)?

  Firstly it is good to know that CLIA oceangoing Cruise Line Members have committed to not discharging untreated sewage anywhere in the world, particularly as it is estimated that the average cruise ship with 3,000 people onboard will generate around 30,000 gallons of sewage a day (excluding grey water). That is over 200,000 gallons on a week-long cruise. Advanced Wastewater Treatment Systems AWTS) onboard cruise ships are often equivalent to the best shoreside waste water treatment plants and go well beyond international requirements. Ships use a variety of biological and chemical methods to treat waste water and also have innovative ways of conserving water such as treating and repurposing condensation from AC units to use for laundry for example.

  
  Cruise Ship Energy-Efficiency 

  A priority of cruise lines is energy efficiency. They implement various methods such as using energy-saving LED lights and higher efficiency appliances. They also recycle hot water to heat passenger cabins and use special evaporators to distill the water used to cool engines into fresh water for shipboard air conditioning systems. Also special window coatings keep cabins and passageways cool with less air conditioning. By switching to low-energy LED lights, newer cruise ships can improve lighting energy efficiency by nearly 80 percent.

  
  Recycling Waste Onboard

  Cruise ships use some of the most innovative recycling, reduction and reuse strategies in the world. Less than 700g of unrecyclable waste is generated per person per day on cruise ships, compared to the average of around 2kg per person per day on land.

  Cruise ships recycle daily an average of 60% more waste per person than the equivalent on land. Annually, that adds up to over 80,000 tons of paper, plastic, aluminum and glass that is recycled. In fact, some ships are even capable of reducing, reusing, donating, recycling and converting into energy 100 percent of waste.

  
  Destination Sustainability

  Whenever people discuss the effects of cruising on destinations, the thorny issue of over-tourism often monopolises the conversation. Yet the reality is that cruise passengers make up just 2% of world tourism and represent just one small part of a much wider and complex issue. Even in a sensitive destination like Venice, cruise passengers account for only around 5% of total visitor numbers.

  Additionally, the positive impact of cruise tourism shouldn’t be underestimated. According to the UN World Tourism Organization, the cruise sector supports 1.2 million jobs and contributes US$150 billion to the global economy every year. Local communities benefit from cruise tourism through jobs and new business development. Local governments generate tax revenues from cruise tourism and docking fees paid by cruise lines and passengers which are often used to improve infrastructure in the destination.

  However, it is clear that more needs to be done. The cruise industry is already liaising with national governments and local and port authorities in key destinations which have been highlighted. The wider tourism industry recognises that overcrowding in some places is something that needs tackling, and that it needs to be done in a sustainable and responsible way, in collaboration with local stakeholders. CLIA is already working with local politicians in Dubrovnik for example on their “Respect the City” programme, and as a result CLIA cruise lines have made scheduling adjustments that will help relieve congestion at the Old Town’s Pile Gate.

  
  How Can We Help?

  We have a responsibility to do our bit whilst cruising. Examples of things we can do include not sending towels to be laundered every day (maybe even drying and reusing pool towels), and to use recycling points throughout ships. We can support cruise lines’ bid to eliminate the use of single-use plastics by taking our own reusable water bottles onboard for our drinks, and not to create too much food waste (order what you can comfortably eat - you can always have more if your appetite allows). Many cruise lines have set up foundations to help specific environmental projects in different destinations all over the world, which customers can donate to.

  
  Sustainable Cruising - A Summary

  I’m sure this will be a divisive topic (particularly if you are reading this as a non- or anti-cruiser. However, hopefully you will see the positive steps that have been, and will continue to be taken, to improve sustainability within the cruise industry. To summarise these include:

• An industry vision of net zero carbon cruising globally by 2050;

• Introduction of systems for air improvement such as EGCS and LNG-Power to reduce emissions;

• Zero discharge of untreated sewage plus introduction of advance water management systems;

• Energy-efficiency onboard ship;

• Up to 100% waste recycling;

• Collaborating with destination stakeholders to improve impact of cruise tourism.

  
  Sources: Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) 

  Find out how your favourite cruise lines are approaching SUSTAINABILITY on my dedicated page.