Sustainability is one of the pillars of the State Ports Strategic Framework, and the different Port Authorities are implementing various initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of cruise ships.
Dock electrification (OPS) is one of the main investment priorities for ports within the framework of decarbonization. Currently, most cruise ships have OPS systems, but their implementation is slower in ports due to technical difficulties, such as the need to develop electrical power distribution networks capable of supplying high power, which requires collaboration between different public administrations and private companies.
The Strategic Framework specifically includes the objective of achieving widespread electrification of 100% of ports by 2030. Port Authorities are already designing the development of basic infrastructure to implement low, medium, and high voltage electrical power supply facilities for ferries, container ships, and cruise ships, with sufficient power and transmission capacity adapted to the standards of the equipment on board the vessels themselves. Between now and 2030, a public investment of around €800 million is projected for this area.
Use of alternative fuels
LNG bunkering is now available in all ports, facilitated by the wide range of LNG regasification plants: Barcelona has a resident barge that supplies LNG to several Carnival Corp. ships weekly or bi-weekly. This service is also offered in other ports, such as Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Cádiz, using barges arriving from other ports. It is worth noting that the world's largest cruise ship, the Icon of the Seas, refueled in Algeciras during its delivery voyage. Spanish ports also have a broad supply of VLSFOs and are preparing for new-generation fuels such as methanol and ammonia. Many of these infrastructures are being enhanced by the CORE LNGas HIVE project.
Waste and Water Management
Ports are improving their waste management and wastewater treatment systems. This includes installing treatment plants that allow cruise ships to safely and environmentally manage their grey and black water. Furthermore, Port Authorities incentivize the delivery of MARPOL waste in port by charging a mandatory fixed fee to all cruise ships calling at the port, regardless of whether they use the waste reception service. This fixed fee, which depends on the ship's gross tonnage, entitles the ship to discharge all waste listed in Annexes 1 and V of the MARPOL Convention. A 20% discount is also applied to cruise ships that have systems or protocols in place to reduce the waste they produce. Port Authorities provide this MARPOL service through a contracted company. The service provider is required to have an ISO 14001 environmental management system, which includes documenting the final disposal of all waste.
Certifications and Sustainability Programs
Port Authorities are certifying their Environmental Management Systems. For decades, Port Authorities have voluntarily obtained, renewed, and reviewed every two years the ESPO Port Environmental Review System (PERS) certification, the only European environmental management accreditation specifically for the port sector. These certifications ensure that ports meet high environmental standards. It is the only port-specific environmental recognition in the European Union, granted through the European Seaports Organisation (ESPO) and independently verified by Lloyd's Register.
A total of nine Port Authorities have an environmental management system certified under EMAS. EMAS stands for the Community Eco-Management and Audit Scheme, a voluntary regulation for organizations implementing environmental management systems. Seventeen other Port Authorities have environmental management systems in place, and two more are in the process of implementing ISO 14001.
Spanish ports participate in European projects and international collaborations to develop and implement best practices in sustainability. Since the end of the last century, Spanish Port Authorities have participated in dozens of initiatives co-financed with European funds, all with the sole objective of port progress. Through this involvement in EU initiatives and projects, and through teamwork within European consortia, it is possible to develop actions that facilitate competitiveness and sustainability within the port environment, improving sustainability and operations, and attracting new clients. In the cruise sector, the “OPS Master Plan for Spanish Ports” is particularly important. It is integrated into the National Action Framework for the development of infrastructure for the use of alternative fuels in the transport sector. It has a budget of €6 million and is co-financed with €1.5 million by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) program.
