Palma, August 17, 2019. The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is calling for rigorous analysis of its activities, stating that attention-grabbing claims with no basis in reality are being used to spread misinformation for ideological purposes. CLIA points out that neither the study conducted by the University of the Balearic Islands on pollution in the port of Palma nor the 2017 Air Quality Report from the Balearic Islands Government provides any conclusions that identify cruise ship activity as the primary cause of pollution in Palma.
CLIA's director in Spain, Alfredo Serrano, states that “we have always been open to debate to improve our sector's activity, and we remain so, but we ask that it be conducted with rigor and seriousness. Ours is an industry committed to the environment and to society. Therefore, we reject a superficial debate, one based on gimmicks designed to grab attention while disregarding any rigor, and which attempts to spread misinformation for ideological purposes.” Furthermore, referring to Terraferida's statement, he adds that “comparing the fuel consumed to the Prestige oil spill has no other objective than to attract attention in a sensational way, to continue spreading misinformation for ideological purposes. It's like saying that cars driving on the island spill fuel on the roads, instead of consuming it. And the same goes for airplanes… If we want a serious debate, what they should do is provide the studies that support their claims and submit them to scientific analysis.” The study carried out by the University of the Balearic Islands concluded that "the activity of the port of Palma does not by itself explain the levels of noise and PM10 particles present in the air" and that "by type of ship, only the activity of ferries shows a relatively high correlation with the concentration of PM10 particles suspended in the air."
In addition to complying with existing regulations, ships belonging to CLIA member companies are required to implement the Association's environmental policies, which far exceed existing regulatory requirements. Cruise ships employ some of the world's most advanced recycling and reuse strategies. In fact, thanks to the efforts of cruise ship waste management staff, the proportion of waste to be disposed of per person has decreased, and the recycling rate on cruise ships has increased compared to that of land-based travelers, and even compared to those same individuals at home.
According to the report 'Evaluation of Cruise Industry Global Environmental Practices and Performance', prepared by Energy and Environmental Research Associates LLC (EERA), CLIA member companies are the leaders in maritime transport in innovation, efficiency, and the development of environmental policies. According to this study, the sector is a leader in environmental matters thanks to measures such as the use of clean fuels, the control of atmospheric emissions, and a zero-discharge policy for untreated wastewater.
The “AIDAnova”, which visits Palma weekly, recently received the Blue Angel award from the German Federal Environment Agency – a German certification for environmentally friendly products and services, awarded since 1978 – for its eco-design. It is the world's first cruise ship powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), the cleanest fossil fuel in the world.
The 280 cruise ships currently in operation represent less than 1% of the global fleet and are by far the most modern and environmentally friendly ships sailing today. The industry has been investing for years in technologies such as ships powered by liquefied natural gas (35% of ships under construction), exhaust gas scrubbing systems (60% of operational ships and 50% of the order book) that eliminate up to 50% of nitrogen oxides and up to 90% of particulate matter, and the ability to use shore power, thus avoiding the need to maintain engines in port. These investments have paved the way for making the rest of maritime transport more sustainable. Today, a cruise ship consumes up to 70% less fuel per passenger than it did 20 years ago.
Finally, regarding the economic impact of cruise ships on the island, Serrano points out that “we have also seen with perplexity how voices are emerging claiming it isn't that significant, or offering opinions based solely on impressions or, again, ideological considerations. We would like to reiterate that data exists on this matter, that a study was conducted—by the University of the Balearic Islands, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Port Authority—which, among other conclusions, established the sector's contribution to the Balearic GVA at 256 million euros and nearly 6,000 jobs. Let's move beyond a debate of opinions and focus on the facts.”
