CLIA reports on environmental progress
A NEW Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) environmental update details progress toward the sector’s vision for net-zero carbon sailing.
The 2022 Global Cruise Industry Environmental Technologies and Practices Report highlights the sector’s advancements, but also its need for the development and deployment of sustainable marine fuels.
The report reinforces the sector’s credentials as an innovator and early adopter of other environmental technologies, highlighted by the increasing number of ships launching over the new few years which will be able to incorporate zero-emissions propulsion when available.
More than 15% of the vessels to be launched in the next five years will be equipped to incorporate fuel cells or batteries.
There is also growing investment to equip ships to plug in to shoreside electricity where available.
Ninety-eight percent of new build capacity on order book (between now and 2028) is either committed to be fitted with shore-side electricity systems or will be configured to add shoreside power in the future.
Despite progress made, the report makes clear a transition to sustainable marine fuels is essential to achieving the maritime industry’s decarbonisation goals.
Less than two-thirds (61%) of newbuild capacity will rely on LNG fuel for primary propulsion.
“Innovation and engineering are at the heart of the industry’s vision for net zero carbon cruising,” said President & Chief Executive Officer Kelly Craighead.
“The cruise industry continues to lead the way by investing billions to incorporate new technologies, accelerate development of sustainable marine fuels - in particular, engines capable of using sustainable marine fuels - and enable shoreside electricity connectivity on existing and new ships.
“These are the fundamental building blocks for the decarbonisation of global shipping, and we are acting now for the future.”
CLIA Chair Pierfrancesco Vago said the cruise sector has always been, and will continue to be, at the cutting-edge of innovation when it comes to environmental and maritime technologies.
“For this next phase of our journey to net-zero as an industry, we now need clear support from governments and policymakers to ensure that the right infrastructure is developed also on land and to encourage the investment and innovation that will be required for the development of sustainable marine fuels at scale,” he said.
The report is based on aggregated data across CLIA’s global oceangoing cruise line membership, with full details available at cruising.org, while a video showcasing how the industry is “sailing to a better future” is now online at cruiseweekly.com.au/videos.