Icon of the Seas: Environmentalists concerned over world’s biggest cruise ship
TJanuary 30, 2024
he world’s largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, has set sail from Miami, Florida on its maiden voyage. ,WV ÀUVW MRXUQH\ ZLOO EH D seven-day island-hopping voyage LQ WKH &DULEEHDQ ² EXW WKHUH DUH FRQFHUQV DERXW WKH YHVVHO·V methane emissions.
Environmentalists have warned WKDW WKH OLTXHÀHG QDWXUDO JDV (LNG) powering the ship could leak harmful methane into the air.
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What do we know about the Icon of the Seas cruise ship?
The 365m-long (1,197 ft) vessel, RZQHG E\ 5R\DO &DULEEHDQ *URXS
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It weighs more than 250,000 tonnes, has 20 decks and can house a maximum of 7,600 passengers.
But tickets aren’t cheap! It will cost you anywhere from $1,723 (£1,360) to
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The cruise ship is home to seven swimming pools, six water slides, an RQERDUG ZDWHU SDUN QDPHG 7KULOO ,VODQG and even has a funfair on the top deck.
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Argentina’s World Cup winning captain Lionel Messi took part in the ship’s naming ceremony last week.
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Why are people worried about the Icon of the Sea’s effect on the environment?
The fuel that powers the ship is OLTXHÀHG QDWXUDO JDV /1* ZKLFK SURGXFHV OHVV FDUERQ GLR[LGH ² D JUHHQKRXVH JDV WKDW FRQWULEXWHV WR JOREDO ZDUPLQJ ² WKDQ XVXDO VKLSV WKDW use fuel oil.
But there is a risk that some gas could escape, causing methane to leak into the atmosphere.
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The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) recently released a report arguing that methane emissions from LNG-fuelled ships were higher than current regulations assumed.
Bryan Comer, director of the Marine Programme said: “It’s a step in the wrong direction. “We would estimate that using LNG as a marine fuel emits over 120% more life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions than marine gas oil.”
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The company said it also has plans WR LQWURGXFH D QHW ]HUR VKLS E\