The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has published its annual Environmental Practices and Technologies. The report indicates that 166 ships (58% of CLIA's fleet) are equipped with on-board power systems (OPS), a 12% increase over the previous year. Globally, less than 3% of cruise ports offer this solution.
The report shows continuous and quantifiable progress by shipping companies, which are advancing their ambitious environmental sustainability agenda: conducting trials with biofuels, investing in engines that allow flexibility in fuel use, increasing use of low-emission alternatives and adopting measures that maximize energy efficiency.
In this regard, CLIA President & CEO Bud Darr states: “Cruise lines are pioneers in the adoption of maritime technologies, including advanced water treatment systems, grid connection, technologies that reduce hydrodynamic hull friction during navigation, and the use of state-of-the-art dual-fuel engines; advancements from which other segments of maritime transport also benefit.”.
Furthermore, “cruise lines are investing tens of billions of dollars in building the fleet of the future; currently, shipyards have order books for more than 80 cruise ships, which will be equipped with these and other innovations. These orders represent tangible steps toward a significant improvement in the operational capacity and efficiency of our partners’ fleets,” Darr adds.
Highlights of the report Environmental practices and technologies
Pursuit of net zero emissions and operational efficiency
Power grid connection (OPS): Currently, 166 cruise ships (58% of the fleet) have this technology, a 12% increase compared to the previous year. The goal is to reach 273 ships by 2036.
Meanwhile, regarding the ports where shipping companies operate, currently 41 (less than 3%) worldwide offer electricity grid connections, 8 more than last year. According to the EU's Fit for 55 legislative package, major European ports must have operational power supply (OPS) by 2030, which will further accelerate investment in port infrastructure in the region.
OPS technology allows engines to be stopped when ships are in port, reducing emissions by up to 98%, depending on the energy mix, according to studies conducted by several ports and the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Engines: Currently, 19 cruise ships are equipped with engines that allow for high flexibility in fuel use ( multifuel). This means they can operate on more than one type of fuel with minimal or no modifications, facilitating the transition from traditional fuels to low- or zero-emission alternatives as these become available in the supply chain. In 2018, only one ship was equipped with this technology.
- By the end of 2025, 23 cruise ships will be powered by multifuel, including the first ship that will be able to use three fuels.
- Looking ahead to 2036, it is projected that 32 ships equipped with multifuel engines will begin operating . Of these, 7 will be able to use methanol and 25 liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Adoption of zero- or low-emission alternative fuels: Shipping companies continue to increase their use of alternatives to heavy fuel oil (such as biofuels and LNG, among others). In 2024, a cruise ship designed to operate on methanol entered service; it will switch to methanol as its primary fuel starting in 2026. Another will join the fleet later this year.
Water management
Water purification
98% of ships are equipped with systems that allow them to purify water on board and thus cover most of their needs, avoiding taking this limited resource from ports and destinations.
Advanced Wastewater Treatment Systems (AWTS)
Over 82% of the fleet is equipped with AWTS, a technology that exceeds the requirements established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in its environmental protocols. Furthermore, shipping companies are committed to not discharging untreated sewage during their routine operations anywhere in the world.
On the other hand, more than a third of the cruise ships have AWSTs capable of meeting the (stricter) standards set by the IMO for the Baltic Special Area.
Waste management
Shipping companies are adopting a new generation of technologies to manage waste; some allow for the recycling or reuse of almost all waste generated on board. These include:
- Systems that transform waste into fuel: currently used on eight ships, these systems convert waste into energy that is then used on board. As a result, the amount of waste sent to landfills and the demand for energy decrease.
- Systems that allow the use of natural waste from food in biodigesters: currently used on 128 ships, significantly reducing food waste.
Some of these technologies were not present on cruise ships five years ago.
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