New exhaust tech adopted by industry
AN UPDATED Cruise Industry Sustainability Guide jointly released by three of Australia and New Zealand’s leading cruise organisations shows a large number of ships have adopted new Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (EGCS) technology.
The report, tabled by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia, the Australian Cruise Association (ACA), and the New Zealand Cruise Association, cites the new EGCS technology as a major pillar of the industry’s strategy to help lower carbon emissions by 40% before 2030 ( CW 02 Jan).
So far 111 cruise ships have been fitted with EGCS, while a further 42 vessels are due to be retrofitted, and another 27 newbuild ships will adopt the more emissions-friendly tech.
The updated sustainability guide states that EGCS has been shown to reduce the level of sulphur oxides in a ship’s exhaust by as much as 98%, offering an alternative to low-sulphur fuels to achieve emission reduction goals.
“EGCS are a key component of the cruise industry’s emission reduction strategy, and not withstanding the complexity and cost associated with these systems, cruise lines have pioneered the use of this technology in the marine environment,” the report said.
Another aspect of the cruise sector’s overall carbon reduction plan will include a strong push for new-build ships to operate on LNG, with the updated report showing more than one third of new-build cruise ships in the pipeline will operate using the greener option as their primary propulsion fuel.
CLIA has previously flagged plans to report annually on the industry’s progress toward the emissions commitment.