CLIA: Cruise Lines Continue to Invest in New ‘Green’ Ships

The cruise sector is showing concrete progress in advancing its environmental and sustainability agenda, according to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the leading voice of the global cruise industry.

In its Global Cruise Industry Environmental Technologies and Practices Report, CLIA says investments in technologies and alternative fuels that took place in 2023 will accelerate the maritime transition towards net zero.

According to the association, data of orders in 2023 shows that cruise lines continue investment in new vessels with 44 new ships on order during the next five years, representing an investment of $62 billion since 2019.

Of these new ships, 25 will be LNG-powered and seven will be either methanol ready on delivery, or methanol capable, representing an investment in new engine technologies that will accelerate the maritime transition towards a future of low to zero carbon fuels.

The 2023 report found 48 percent of new-build capacity will be designed with LNG engines and fuel supply systems. It is noted that these ships are part of a future generation of vessels that will be capable of running on renewable marine fuels once fuel providers are able to make them available at scale. Based on analyses, LNG is currently the fossil fuel available at scale that has the best performance in reducing atmospheric emissions. It has virtually zero sulfur emissions and particulate emissions, reduces NOx emissions by approximately 85 percent, and achieves up to a 20 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

CLIA’s report also highlights other significant investments cruise lines are making to reduce emissions while at berth, such as shoreside electricity (SSE) systems, which allow cruise ships to turn off their engines to significantly reduce emissions, while in the port.

Across the CLIA cruise-line member fleet, 120 ships (46 percent of the total and a 48 percent increase in the number of ships with SSE since 2022) are equipped to connect to shoreside electricity, with 86 percent of CLIA member ships (representing 95 percent of global passenger capacity) coming online between now and 2028 specified for shoreside electricity system.

In 2022, CLIA announced that its ocean cruise line members have made a commitment that all ships calling at ports capable of providing shoreside power will be equipped to either use SSE by 2035 or be able to use alternative low-carbon technologies, as available, to reduce emissions in port.

As part of the EU’s Fit for 55 green program, by 2030, major ports in Europe will be required to have shoreside power, which will further accelerate the available port infrastructure investment in that region.

CLIA’s report also says that more cruise lines are diversifying energy solutions by incorporating multi-fuel engines, trialing fuel cell technology, wind (including solid sail) technology, as well as photovoltaic solutions and battery storage for power saving. Efficiency tracking systems are now in use on 171 CLIA-member ships, representing 60 percenr of the global fleet, with many more systems planned. In addition, cruise lines are pursuing fuel flexibility, investing today in propulsion technologies with conversion capabilities for the future—with 32 pilot projects and collaborative initiatives underway with sustainable fuel producers and engine companies.

Within the CLIA member fleet, four ships sailing today use renewable biofuel as an energy source—and an additional four new-build ships are expected to be configured for renewable biofuels. In addition, 24 ships currently have biofuel trials and two have synthetic carbon fuels trials. Seven new-build ships are anticipated to run on zero carbon fuels, including five ships envisioned to use green methanol and two envisioned to use green hydrogen.

According to CLIA, 15 percent of new-build cruise ships entering service in the next five years are anticipated to be equipped with battery storage and/or fuel cells to allow for hybrid power generation.

“The cruise industry, as part of the broader maritime sector, is doing its part by building the future of cruise into our ships today. We need governments to support research efforts, as well as provide a clear and stable regulatory landscape, so that fuel suppliers and others can do the critical work needed,” CLIA Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago said.