This Thursday, October 20, the Teatret del Serrallo witnessed the celebration of the first 'Sustainability and Environmental Care Day in Cruises and Sports Boating' organized by Port Tarraco and Tarragona Cruise Port-Costa Dorada with the technical support of AWP Services and Cruises News Media Group and the collaboration of CLIA-Cruise Lines International Association.
The event, presented by Genoveva Climent, Commercial and Business Development Director of the Port Authority of Tarragona (APT), included the participation of Víctor Franquet, Manager of Tarragona Tourism, who was responsible for the closing remarks, and was attended by professionals, experts, and key executives from the cruise and recreational boating sectors, as well as from the fields of sustainability and environmental protection. Following the welcoming address, APT representatives explained the unique aspects of cruise operations in Tarragona, which differ significantly from the more common models used in the Mediterranean.
Tarragona, a unique model.
According to the APT (Tarragona Port Authority), the management of cruise activity in our region has unique characteristics that make it much more sustainable than elsewhere. Firstly, the scale of the project in Tarragona is nothing like that of the major cruise ports: the large Mediterranean cruise ports (Barcelona, Civitavecchia, or Palma) register between 3 and 4 million passengers per year, compared to Tarragona's 130,000 (in 2019, which saw even more).
Tarragona is a model with very little congestion, "although some in the public equate its level of activity with that of Barcelona." A comparison with Barcelona demonstrates that the two models are not comparable, considering that the Catalan capital receives 948 cruise ships per year (vs. 63 in Tarragona, 2019), has an average of 4,852 people per port call (vs. 2,063 in Tarragona), and its peak day sees 27,801 people (vs. 5,551 in Tarragona).
Therefore, according to the APT, this is an activity that has a low impact even on a territorial scale, considering that Catalonia receives 5 million cruise passengers or that the Costa Dorada has 20 million overnight stays annually, compared to 130,000 passengers…
On the other hand, unlike the large Mediterranean ports, Tarragona is a "territorialized model" in which visitors by sea do not concentrate only in the port city, but go to other tourist destinations inland and along the coast of Camp de Tarragona and the Ebro Lands.
Favorable public opinion
The APT has also presented preliminary data from two studies that are in preparation and which, once presented to the Institutional Cruise Board, will be made available to the public.
On the one hand, a citizen survey conducted last September, with a sample of 500 people from the towns of Tarragona, Reus, Cambrils, Vila-seca, and Salou, reflects a favorable opinion regarding cruise ship activity in Tarragona. The survey explains that 62% of respondents stated they do not feel affected in their daily lives by the arrival of cruise ships in Tarragona.
Of the remaining 38%, more than half (53%) state that the impact is positive (mainly for economic reasons) and only 22% say that it affects them negatively, and the rest (25%) indicate both positive and negative impacts at the same time.
The survey reveals that the majority of respondents believe that cruise ship arrivals have a positive economic impact on the region (94%), and that only 17% oppose the arrival of more cruise ships to Tarragona. Finally, among other findings, the survey also indicated that a majority believe cruise tourism is of higher quality than tourism arriving by other means of transport.
Very low environmental impact
The second data release shows how the environmental impact of cruise ship activity on the inhabited areas of the Tarraconense coast is almost zero.
The study determines what part of the pollution recorded by the cabins of the Port and the Generalitat of Catalonia Network is attributable to the arrival of cruise ships through a modeling based on the cruise activity of 2019, the year of maximum activity.
The comparison between the overall recorded data and emissions on days with cruise ships concludes that the impact of cruise ships on the total reading is “negligible” for the main pollutants: CO, NO2, SO2, and PM10. The study also concludes that the impact of 130,000 passengers on 63 port calls is the same as that of a town of about 2,500 inhabitants.
Furthermore, the study compares the impact with other human activities such as domestic energy consumption, demonstrating that a cruise passenger generates less CO, NOx, NMVOCs, PM10, SO2, and CO2 during a 7-day stay than a person spending the same amount of time at home. The study also compares cruises with other modes of transportation, showing how cars and airplanes are more polluting. Cruise passengers generate significantly fewer pollutants than car travelers, except for SO2, due to the nature of the fuels used by ships.
And as for the plane, the cruise passenger generates 51% less emissions than a traveler on a commercial plane.
Cruises are becoming increasingly green.
In his speech, Alfredo Serrano, head of CLIA Spain, explained that the cruise industry is currently at the forefront of the transformation towards a sustainable activity.
CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) is collaborating with national and regional governments to establish a low-emission zone in the Mediterranean with a maximum sulfur content of 0.1% in fuel. Serrano explained the various lines of action to reduce the environmental impact of cruise activity: reducing the sulfur content in fossil fuels, seeking green fuels, achieving zero emissions to the port, and reducing, recycling, and reusing waste, among others.
With remarkable results in recent years: 40% of shipping services can be connected to electricity; 11 ships are already powered by LNG; and 61% of the ships under construction will also be powered by LNG; 79% of services have incorporated the Exhaust Gas Cleaning System (EGCS); and 78% already have d'AWTS, an advanced wastewater treatment system (100% in new ships).
Greener Terminals:
Alba Colet, Commercial Manager of Tarragona CruisePort, presented the project and management of the new cruise terminal in Tarragona. The terminal will have a capacity for up to 8,000 passengers and will be built by Global Ports Holding, the world's leading cruise port operator, with environmentally friendly design principles. The terminal building, scheduled to be operational in 2023, will be a single-story, open-plan, and functional space, and will be energy self-sufficient and sustainable. It will also feature green areas and other elements that will make it one of the most sustainable terminals in the Mediterranean.
Committed Stakeholders:
The first roundtable discussion served as a forum for exchanging perspectives among stakeholders involved in the cruise industry. Moderated by Virginia López Valiente, General Manager of Cruises News Media Group, the discussion included Rafael Fernandez-Álava, Director of Communications and Institutional Relations at Costa Cruises; Giorgio Costa, Head of Business Development at Silversea Cruises; Arantxa García, Head of Sustainable Development at Intercruises Shoreside & Port Services; Javier Rodríguez, Director for the Mediterranean and Asia at Global Ports Holding; and Sofia Basterra, Director of Communications at MSC Cruises.
Rafael Fernandez has stated that Costa Cruises' challenge is "to achieve zero emissions in the sector.".
Sofia Basterra, communications director of MSC Cruises Spain, explained that “collaboration and cooperation from all stakeholders is vital” to achieve the sustainable goals demanded by the European Union and requested by society.
At the same time, Giorgio Costa explained the experience of the Silversea fleet and the characteristics of the most sustainable ships, emphasizing "the importance of using liquefied natural gas to achieve a more environmentally responsible cruise activity.".
Javier Rodríguez explained that “the entire industry is pushing towards sustainable commitment, and at Global Ports we want all the ports we work with to achieve GreenPort certification.” Arantxa García also reaffirmed her commitment to sustainability, explaining how Intercruises demonstrates “a track record of over 20 years in the sustainable management of its services, which are governed by three fundamental pillars: People, Planet, and Progress.”.
Sustainable Recreational Boating:
The second part of the “Sustainability and Environmental Care Conference” was dedicated to recreational boating activities, featuring two presentations and a panel discussion. In his presentation, Pablo Peiró, manager of the Spanish Association of Large Yachts, emphasized that “a clean sea is fundamental for boating, given that the purpose of this activity is the enjoyment of the seas.” Peiró added, “Spain has almost 8,000 km of coastline, which should be compatible with the development of ports and the maintenance of environmental balance.”
In the second presentation, Antonio Zaforteza, CEO of Ocibar, the company responsible for operating the Port Tarraco Marina, highlighted the capacity to generate skilled jobs and direct and indirect economic activity from Port Tarraco. Among other arguments, Zaforteza explained that "the lowest salary for a person working in maintenance on a 60-meter-long ship is $66,000 annually, and therefore, a positive job opportunity despite being little known.".
Responsible boating
The second round table “Economic impact and sustainability of recreational boating” was moderated by Eva Miquel, Managing Partner of aWp Services and included the participation of Antonio Zaforteza, CEO of Ocibar; Miquel Àngel Lliteras, Manager of Grand Marina Vilanova; Judith Estrella, Co-founder of Charter & Dreams; and Carlos Morales, General Manager of Astilleros de Mallorca
In this debate, Judith Estrella and Francesc Dianez agree with the other agents on "the need to include sustainable behaviors and policies in the sector and position themselves as pioneers.".
Carlos Morales has highlighted “the development of the ship repair business as an economic engine in ports,” and Miguel A. Literas has emphasized the development possibilities of the sector: “If we all work together we will have more capacity to grow.”.
The speakers at the megayacht roundtable emphasized the training derived from new professions associated with the entire auxiliary industry, such as crews, technology experts, mechanics, electricians, specialized consignees, or charter brokers.
Likewise, for a megayacht terminal to function effectively and accommodate numerous large vessels during winter storage, it's essential that it be associated with a shipyard. Nearby slipways facilitate refit and repair services, making it easier to manage the extended stay in a port of this kind.
A Sustainable Economic and Social Opportunity.
The closing remarks were delivered by Víctor Franquet, Manager of Tarragona Tourism. The technical director of the city's Tourism Board emphasized that cruise tourism represents a sustainable employment, economic, social, and economic opportunity.
The organizers,
Port Tarraco, managed by Ocibar, is the yacht marina in the Port of Tarragona, with facilities equipped to offer a comfortable, safe, and enjoyable stay year-round. It offers 33 berths for yachts ranging from 45 to 160 meters, security services, and a wide variety of specialized companies providing maintenance and supply services.
Tarragona Cruise Port – Costa Dorada is the brand name used by the Tarragona Cruise Institutional Board to promote this tourism activity. The members of the Cruise Institutional Board include: the Tarragona City Council, the Reus City Council, the Vila-seca City Council, the Tarragona Provincial Council, Reus Airport, the Tarragona Chamber of Commerce, the Catalan Government's Directorate General of Tourism, PortAventura, Rovira i Virgili University, and the Port of Tarragona, among others.
The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is the world's largest cruise industry trade association, with representation in North America, Southern Europe, Asia, and Australia. CLIA is committed to achieving zero-carbon cruises across its entire global fleet by 2050 and is on track to reduce its carbon emissions rate by 40% by 2030.
Cruises News Media Group is the leading cruise information company, specializing in the promotion, development, communication, and marketing of the global cruise industry. It publishes CruisesNews magazine and owns and organizes the Cruise Excellence Awards and the International Cruise Summit.
AWp Services is a strategy and communication consultancy in which its managing partner, Eva Miquel, is focused on the maritime port sector, having as clients very diverse companies in the field of nautical, ports, logistics or cruise companies.
