Cruise industry shows off progress towards net-zero carbon cruising

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) released statements and updates today, October 18, 2022 highlighting their progress towards net-zero carbon cruising, while also highlighting the need for development and deployment of sustainable marine fuels.

Cruise Lines International Association is the leading voice of the global cruise line industry. Today’s release of the 2022 Global Cruise Industry Environmental Technologies and Practices Report shows progress towards achieving the industry’s latest goals towards achieving net-zero carbon cruising, globally by the year 2050.

The President and Chief Executive Officer of CLIA, Kelly Craighead said the following, “innovation and engineering are at the heart of the industry’s vision for net zero carbon cruising. The cruise industry continues to lead the way by investing billions to incorporate new technologies, accelerate development of sustainable marine fuels - in particular, engines capable of using sustainable marine fuels - and enable shoreside electricity connectivity on existing and new ships. These are the fundamental building blocks for the decarbonization of global shipping, and we are acting now for the future.”

The CLIA reports progress towards its overall goal of being an early adaptor of environmental technologies, citing the fact that progress such as many new ships launching many new vessels that will be able to incorporate zero-emissions propulsion. The CLIA also reports growing investments in order to equip ships to be able to plug in to shoreside electricity when available at ports. More than “15% of the vessels to be launched in the next five years will be equipped to incorporate fuel cells or batteries, and 85% of CLIA-member ships coming online between now and 2028 will be able to plug in to shoreside electricity, allowing engines to switch off at berth for significant emissions reduction,” states CLIA.

While the report remains hopeful, It also highlights the need to transition to sustainable marine fuels remains essential. The CLIA report also underscores the need for global governments to support the research efforts to develop these sustainable marine fuels. CLIA is a supporting organization to the ‘Getting to Zero Coalition’s Call to Action for Decarbonization of Shipping’.

“The cruise industry has always been and will continue to be at the cutting edge of innovation when it comes to environmental and maritime technologies. For this next phase of our journey to net-zero as an industry, we now need clear support from governments and policy-makers to ensure that the right infrastructure is developed also on land and to encourage the investment and innovation that will be required for the development of sustainable marine fuels at scale,” states the Chairman of CLIA Global, Pierfrancesco Vago.

The CLIA 2022 report outlines the continued progress towards reductions in emissions by the following:

Shore-side Power Capability

Cruise lines continue to make investments towards connectivity to shoreside electricity. This would allow ships’ engines to be switched off in port. “40% of global capacity (up to 20% year over year) are fitted to operate on shore-side electricity in 29 ports worldwide (less than 2% of the world’s ports) where that capacity is provided in at least one berth in the port. 98% of new build capacity on order book (between now and 2028) id either committed to be fitted with shore-side electricity systems or will be configured to add shore-side power in the future.”

Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) Fuel

In this 2022 report, it was found that 61% of new-build capacity vessels will rely on LNG fuel for the ships’ primary propulsion. “The use of LNG results in 95% to 100% fewer particulate matter (PM) emissions, virtually zero sulphur emissions, and an 85% reduction in nitrogen emissions. As a transitional fuel, LNG provides real benefits now, but also allows LNG-ready ships to adapt to a future generation of sustainable marine fuels.”

Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (EGCS)

“More than 79% of global capacity utilizes EGCS to meet or exceed air emissions requirements, representing an increase in capacity of 7% compared to 2021. Additionally, 88% of capacity of non-LNG new builds will have EGCS installed, in line with already high historical level of investments,” states the report.

Advanced Wastewater Treatment Systems

“100% of new ships on order are specified to have advanced wastewater treatment systems and currently 78% of the CLIA ocean-going cruise line fleet capacity is served by advanced wastewater treatment systems,” this is a 9% increase compared to last year, 2021.

The CLIA and industry’s commitment to pursue net-zero carbon cruising by 2050, is supported by the industry’s goal to reduce the rate of carbon by 40% across the global fleet by 2030.

The CLIA also specifies that “sustainable marine fuel can include biofuels and other advanced approaches such as bio and synthetic fuels, methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen.”