In 2019, an ambitious Sustainability Manifesto was created together with all Cruise Baltic partners as a shared vision for a more sustainable region and to make cruising a sustainable holiday offering by 2030. During 2020, and despite the uncertain situation due to the pandemic, the Cruise Baltic Sustainability Report 2020 reveals that partners continued their sustainable efforts and investments and reflects the most relevant sustainable initiatives adopted by Cruise Baltic ports and destinations during 2020.
“2020 has been a year like no other, and the pandemic has impacted the sustainable initiatives underway in Baltic cruise ports and destinations. Despite a year with fewer cruises and an uncertain future ahead, we are pleased that many ports and destinations have continued their efforts and investments to make the region the most sustainable cruise region in the world,” says Claus Bødker, Director of Cruise Baltic.
Cruise Baltic’s newly published 2020 Sustainability Report reveals that, despite a challenging year for the region’s ports and destinations, sustainability plans remain a top priority. For example, onshore power is high on the agenda. In 2020, Rostock, Germany, built an onshore power facility and will be ready to offer shore power to cruise lines in 2021. Stockholm, Sweden, and Helsinki, Finland, are poised to invest in onshore power; Oslo, Norway, is working on a pilot project; and Gothenburg, Sweden, as well as the two Danish cities of Copenhagen and Aarhus, have begun exploring this possibility.
“The cruise sector has had to adapt to a new reality with the emergence of COVID-19, and the situation remains uncertain. It is very positive to see that ports and destinations, despite the difficult year, are maintaining a strong commitment to sustainability. Partners are continuing with their sustainability plans, and some ports have even decided or are in the process of deciding on major investments, such as onshore energy,” says Claus Bødker.
The initiatives in 2020 were numerous. These ranged from a research project in Tallinn, Estonia, which sparked discussions on how to reduce bus traffic between the port and the city, to the extension of the cruise season, with Rønne, Denmark, in particular, actively promoting winter tourism. Other efforts and investments in 2020 included more eco-friendly shore excursions, including tours away from the most crowded areas, making the port-city infrastructure as seamless as possible, as well as studies on emissions, waste management initiatives, and electric buses.
Despite the uncertain future, sustainability continues to play a vital role in strengthening the cruise sector in the Baltic Sea region. Various initiatives to become more sustainable are ongoing, and the vision remains the same: to make cruises a sustainable vacation option by 2030.
