This week the Nature Conservation Union (Nabu) presented its annual cruise ranking. The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the merger of most cruise lines, has now commented on this.
In what is now the eleventh edition of the Nabu cruise ranking, the environmentalists praise the renunciation of heavy fuel oil, the use of shore power and other efficiency and climate protection measures. Havila and Hurtigruten already use batteries within their fleets. At the same time, the Nabu also emphasizes: “Havila and Hurtigruten from Norway are still far from a cruise with a clear conscience.”
According to Nabu, one positive thing to mention is that no company dares to take any measures to reduce emissions – the middle field of the ranking is therefore moving closer together. There are still big differences between the shipping companies, but also within the fleets of the companies. In particular, many existing ships would hardly be cleaner. This also applies to German brands such as AIDA and TUI Cruises. Environmentalists criticize that improvements are almost only implemented on new ships. However, the innovations there ensure AIDA Cruises the top position among the shipping companies with large ships. TUI Cruises came third.
Nabu: Smaller cruise ships are pioneers in climate and environmental protection
Other brands of the Carnival Group, such as Princess, Carnival Cruise Line or Cunard, come last in the current ranking. Altogether, according to its own statements, Nabu evaluated responses from 20 companies that travel in European waters with their cruise ships.
For environmentalists, the providers of smaller cruise ships have become pioneers in climate and environmental protection. “In addition to technical solutions, ambitious and at the same time clear political regulation in Norway is responsible for this. Strict requirements there triggered a surge in innovation, the result of which could soon be climate-neutral cruises. Shore power, batteries and e-fuels based on green hydrogen will also form the basis for this elsewhere. The guidelines recently adopted as part of the EU Green Deal set a good framework for the entire shipping industry. For cruise ships, green methanol in particular offers an opportunity for climate-neutral operation. TUI Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Lines have ordered ships that rely on this option.
“It is very welcome that the first have finally found a way towards climate neutrality. Now the pace has to pick up and many imitators have to be found,” says Sönke Diesener, Nabu shipping expert. In order to play its part in achieving the Paris climate goals, the industry must drastically reduce emissions in the short term. “In fact, they continue to rise. Of particular concern is the sharp increase in methane emissions from LNG use. These are over 80 times more harmful to the climate than CO2. Anyone who speaks of a bridging technology here is closing their eyes to the many problems of LNG, to fracking that is harmful to nature and to the climate killer methane,” says Diesener.
CLIA: Shipowners’ ambitions for environmental and climate protection exceed government targets
In a press statement signed by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Germany Director Helge Grammerstorf, the affiliated shipping lines emphasize that the cruise industry is making huge investments to become one of the most sustainable forms of vacation travel by reducing its environmental footprint in terms of Reduce emissions and waste management.
According to Grammerstorf, CLIA member shipping companies have committed to offering a carbon-free cruise worldwide by 2050. This industry-wide ambition surpasses targets set by governments at national and international levels, including the International Maritime Organization and the EU’s long-term goals of becoming a carbon-neutral continent.
According to the CLIA, cruise companies are already testing the use of renewable, non-fossil fuels. In addition, more than 15 percent of cruise ships entering service over the next five years are expected to be equipped with fuel cells or batteries to enable hybrid power generation, providing additional power during peak periods as the technology becomes available.
In this context, the CLIA also highlights the efforts related to the shore power supply of ships in the ports, which lead to a further significant reduction in emissions as well as energy and fuel savings. As cruise lines continue to invest in equipping their ships with shore power connections, authorities are being asked to prioritize the installation of shore power infrastructure in their ports. There are still too few connections.
Hamburg remains a positive example of shore power supply. This year, a third of the cruise ships equipped accordingly drew their energy from the shore power system at the Cruise Center Alona. This was announced by the Hamburg Port Authority of the German Press Agency. The other two terminals, Steinwerder and Hafencity, should be able to offer shore power in autumn and spring 2025 respectively. Test operations are also to begin soon at the container terminals in the Elbe metropolis. Hamburg would then be the first port in Europe to offer shore power supply for both cruise ships and large container ships.
By Christopher Assies