Cruise industry annual environmental technologies and practices data shows continued progress toward environmental sustainability goals
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September 06, 2024
(WASHINGTON, DC -- 6 September 2024) - Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the leading voice of the global cruise industry, today released its annual Global Cruise Industry Environmental Technologies and Practices Report, showing continued progress by the sector in advancing its environmental and sustainability agenda, including investments in ships and technologies for the uptake of transitional and alternative fuels.
“Cruise lines are continuing to reduce their emissions at sea and at berth in pursuit of net zero emissions by 2050,” said Kelly Craighead, president and CEO of Cruise Lines International Association. “This year’s environmental technologies report demonstrates their progress, with the industry investing in engine technologies with conversion capabilities that will allow ships to use more renewable energy sources as they become available and making important incremental steps to employ a range of other environmental technologies and practices to advance the industry’s wider sustainability initiatives.”
Highlights from the industry’s 2024 Environmental Technologies and Practices Report include:
Fleet Profile
- The CLIA member ocean fleet includes 303 ships and a total capacity of 635,000 lower berths operated by 45 cruise line brands representing 90% of capacity — an increase of 3.6% and 3.34% respectively, compared to the prior year.
- Analysis of the current CLIA member cruise line fleet indicates that the majority of ocean-going ships operated by CLIA member cruise lines are small to mid-size ships, with ship size distribution across the fleet as follows:
- 35% of ships are small ships (fewer than 1,000 lower berths)
- 38% of ships are mid-size ships (1,000 to fewer than 3,000 lower berths)
- 26% of ships are large ships (upwards of 3,000 lower berths)
Fuel Flexibility
CLIA member cruise lines are investing in new ships and engines that allow for fuel flexibility. This includes capability to use renewable biodiesel, investments in the capability to use green methanol when available, and liquified natural gas (LNG). Ships designed with engines and fuel supply systems able to operate on LNG will be able to switch to zero and near-zero fuels such as bio or synthetic LNG in the future, with no engine modifications.
- 19 ships (representing 7% of the fleet and 13% of the fleet’s global capacity) are using LNG for primary propulsion.
LNG has virtually zero sulfur emissions and particulate emissions, reduces NOx emissions by approximately 85% and achieves up to a 20% reduction in GHG emissions. Multiple reports confirm that methane slip (small amounts of escaped methane) – an acknowledged issue with LNG engines – is on a path to be nearly eradicated, with some industry stakeholders claiming that slip values of less than 1% is achievable within the next few years.
Selective Catalytic Reduction Technology (SCR)
- 71 ships, representing 25% of the fleet and more than 20% of global capacity, have SCR systems — an increase of 34% from 2023.
Selective Catalytic Reduction technology (SCR) reduces particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions, thus helping ships to meet IMO Tier III classification standards for nitrogen oxide emissions (NOx). Onshore Power Supply (OPS)—also referred to as Shoreside Electricity (SSE) Capability
Plugging in to OPS when ships are in port allows ships’ engines to be switched off, achieving significant overall pollutant emissions reductions of up to 98%, depending on the mix of energy sources, according to studies conducted by a number of the world’s ports and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Across the CLIA cruise line member fleet:
- 147 ships are able to connect to OPS (52% of the total number of ships and 61% of capacity) — 23% more than the prior year and 167% more since 2018.
- By 2028, 239 ships that are able to connect to OPS are expected to be in service (based on the number of ships scheduled to be retrofitted and new ships on the order book specified for OPS connectivity). This includes 64 ships currently in service and each of the 28 CLIA member cruise ships on the 2024- 2028 order book — all of which are specified for OPS connectivity.
CLIA champions the advancement of onshore power infrastructure as an important component in the industry's work to reduce emissions and supports continued development of cost-effective infrastructure for clean shoreside electricity in cruise ports when the net impact delivers an overall emission reduction.
- Currently 35 of the ports worldwide where cruise ships call (fewer than 3%) have a cruise berth with OPS.
- 22 additional cruise ports are funded for OPS infrastructure and 16 cruise ports are planning to install OPS — a total of 38 ports.
In 2022, CLIA announced that its ocean cruise line members made a commitment that all ships calling at ports capable of providing OPS will be equipped to either use shore power 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 decarbonization regulations, by 2030 major ports in Europe will be required to have shoreside power, which will further accelerate port infrastructure investment in that region.
Advanced Wastewater Treatment Systems (AWTS)
The majority of CLIA member cruise ships sailing today utilize advanced wastewater treatment systems (AWTS), which are capable of exceeding MARPOL Annex IV requirements and perform better than shoreside treatment plants in some coastal cities. In addition, as part of their overarching sustainability focus, cruise lines have committed to not release untreated sewage anywhere in the world during normal operations.
- Across the CLIA cruise line member fleet, 225 ships (80% of the total, representing 84% of global passenger capacity) are equipped with AWTS (an 11% increase from 2023 and a 65% increase from 2018).
- More than one-third of the ships equipped with AWTS are capable of meeting the more stringent wastewater release standards of the Baltic Sea Special Area.
Freshwater Production
- The majority of CLIA members produce their own fresh water onboard their ships, with 267 ships (representing more than 94% of reporting ships and 96% of global capacity) able to do so — of which 172, nearly 60% of the fleet, are capable of producing enough water to match their total consumption.
Notes to Editors:
The data tables for this year’s report can be found at Environmental Technologies and Practices CLIA Global Oceangoing Cruise Lines | CLIA (cruising.org).
All data is based on CLIA’s annual Environmental Technologies and Practices report unless otherwise specified.
For more information, please visit https://cruising.org/en/environmental-sustainability or contact us at [email protected].
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Energy Efficiency on Board discussion at SMM 2024
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Joint Industry GHG Reduction Policy Statement
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CLIA’s Cruise Investment Plan for Europe, presented at SMM 2024 in Hamburg in September 2024
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CLIA Statement regarding Tourism Management Measures in Greece
The cruise sector is a success story for Greece contributing 1.4 billion euros to the economy in 2022. CLIA has long called for more investment in port infrastructure and worked with destinations to implement efficient planning for cruise ship berthing. Any increase in the existing port fee should be fit for purpose, proportionate to the specific port investment needs, and apply across all visitors, with revenues directly reinvested into port operations and the local communities.The cruise industry is keen to continue its close cooperation with the Greek Government to support sustainable tourism activities in the country. CLIA is hoping that any new measures imposed by the Government will be developed in close consultation with the impacted municipalities, ports and tourism stakeholders locally whose livelihoods depend on cruise tourism.Notes to EditorsWe value the strong partnership between the cruise sector and Greece and have called repeatedly for more investment in port infrastructure which benefits the local communities and visitors. Any increase in the existing port fee should be fit for purpose, proportionate to the specific port investment needs, and apply across all visitors. It should also be introduced with sufficient advance notice. Fee revenues should be directly reinvested into port operations to ensure the benefits are felt by the local communities and visitors.The fee should be benchmarked against other port fees in the Mediterranean region, to ensure the Greek ports remain attractive and competitive. Port fees are also regulated by European and national legislation and should align with these principles.We also note the Government’s intent to address tourism management issues during the peak season in some destinations with a potential variation of the fee level.CLIA questions the singular focus on cruise tourism for this proposal. To truly find solutions to tourism management requires a holistic response. Cruise calls are planned years in advance, which allows for use of flow management measures. Indeed, such measures have already been implemented in coordination with local municipalities in Santorini and Mykonos, including berth management systems.CLIA and member cruise lines will continue to work in close cooperation with local authorities to make sure that real and impactful measures are being adopted to strengthen tourism management for a longterm sustainable tourism industry, which benefits visitors and residents alike.CLIA is hoping that any new measures imposed by the Government will be developed in close consultation with the impacted municipalities, ports and tourism stakeholders locally whose livelihoods depend on cruise tourism.ENDSContact: Julie Green: [email protected] 11 September, 2024
Cruise industry data shows continued progress toward sustainability goals
WASHINGTON, DC - 7 September 2024 - Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the leading voice of the global cruise industry, today released its annual Global Cruise Industry Environmental Technologies and Practices Report, showing continued progress by the sector in advancing its environmental and sustainability agenda, including investments in ships and technologies for the uptake of transitional and alternative fuels.“Cruise lines are continuing to reduce their emissions at sea and at berth in pursuit of net zero emissions by 2050,” said Kelly Craighead, President and CEO of Cruise Lines International Association. “This year’s environmental technologies report demonstrates their progress, with the industry investing in engine technologies with conversion capabilities that will allow ships to use more renewable energy sources as they become available and making important incremental steps to employ a range of other environmental technologies and practices to advance the industry’s wider sustainability initiatives.”Highlights from the industry’s 2024 Environmental Technologies and Practices Report include:Fleet ProfileThe CLIA member ocean fleet includes 303 ships and a total capacity of 635,000 lower berths operated by 45 cruise line brands representing 90% of capacity — an increase of 3.6% and 3.34% respectively, compared to the prior year.Analysis of the current CLIA member cruise line fleet indicates that the majority of ocean-going ships operated by CLIA member cruise lines are small to mid-size ships, with ship size distribution across the fleet as follows:35% of ships are small ships (fewer than 1,000 lower berths)38% of ships are mid-size ships (1,000 to fewer than 3,000 lower berths)26% of ships are large ships (upwards of 3,000 lower berths)Fuel FlexibilityCLIA member cruise lines are investing in new ships and engines that allow for fuel flexibility. This includes capability to use renewable biodiesel, investments in the capability to use green methanol when available, and liquified natural gas (LNG). Ships designed with engines and fuel supply systems able to operate on LNG will be able to switch to zero and near-zero fuels such as bio or synthetic LNG in the future, with no engine modifications.19 ships (representing 7% of the fleet and 13% of the fleet’s global capacity) are using LNG for primary propulsion.LNG has virtually zero sulfur emissions and particulate emissions, reduces NOx emissions by approximately 85% and achieves up to a 20% reduction in GHG emissions. Multiple reports confirm that methane slip (small amounts of escaped methane) – an acknowledged issue with LNG engines – is on a path to be nearly eradicated, with some industry stakeholders claiming that slip values of less than 1% is achievable within the next few years.Selective Catalytic Reduction Technology (SCR)71 ships, representing 25% of the fleet and more than 20% of global capacity, have SCR systems — an increase of 34% from 2023.Selective Catalytic Reduction technology (SCR) reduces particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions, thus helping ships to meet IMO Tier III classification standards for nitrogen oxide emissions (NOx).Onshore Power Supply (OPS)—also referred to as Shoreside Electricity (SSE) CapabilityPlugging in to OPS when ships are in port allows ships’ engines to be switched off, achieving significant overall pollutant emissions reductions of up to 98%, depending on the mix of energy sources, according to studies conducted by a number of the world’s ports and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.Across the CLIA cruise line member fleet:147 ships are able to connect to OPS (52% of the total number of ships and 61% of capacity) — 23% more than the prior year and 167% more since 2018.By 2028, 239 ships that are able to connect to OPS are expected to be in service (based on the number of ships scheduled to be retrofitted and new ships on the order book specified for OPS connectivity). This includes 64 ships currently in service and each of the 28 CLIA member cruise ships on the 2024- 2028 order book — all of which are specified for OPS connectivity.CLIA champions the advancement of onshore power infrastructure as an important component in the industry's work to reduce emissions and supports continued development of cost-effective infrastructure for clean shoreside electricity in cruise ports when the net impact delivers an overall emission reduction.Currently 35 of the ports worldwide where cruise ships call (fewer than 3%) have a cruise berth with OPS.22 additional cruise ports are funded for OPS infrastructure and 16 cruise ports are planning to install OPS — a total of 38 ports.In 2022, CLIA announced that its ocean cruise line members made a commitment that all ships calling at ports capable of providing OPS will be equipped to either use shore power 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 decarbonization regulations, by 2030 major ports in Europe will be required to have shoreside power, which will further accelerate port infrastructure investment in that region.Advanced Wastewater Treatment Systems (AWTS)The majority of CLIA member cruise ships sailing today utilize advanced wastewater treatment systems (AWTS), which are capable of exceeding MARPOL Annex IV requirements and perform better than shoreside treatment plants in some coastal cities. 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Charting the future of sustainable cruise travel: Update
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CLIA meets Minister of Maritime Affairs & Insular Policy of Greece amidst cruise season 2024
Athens, 1 August 2024 – Represented by Marie-Caroline Laurent, Director General of CLIA in Europe, and Maria Deligianni, CLIA’s Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, CLIA met Mr. Christos Stylianides, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy of Greece. The meeting reaffirmed the constructive dialogue between CLIA and the Ministry and a mutual commitment to cooperate towards the sustainable development of the cruising industry in Greece.“Greece is a destination cruise market of major importance in Europe, and we wish to continue working together with the Greek government to protect the country’s uniqueness, to be a great place to live and to travel. Concretely, we first recognized this need last year when we launched CLIA’s cruise industry Action Plan for Greece, which aims to address challenges and opportunities for the sector for our mutual benefit”, said Marie-Caroline Laurent.Maria Deligianni added, “Recently, thegrowth of tourism in Greece has garnered significant attention, particularly concerning the islands of Santorini and Mykonos. We were pleased to inform the Minister of our proactive engagement with local authorities to enhance cruise tourism practices and develop sustainable tourism strategies for these islands. This includes the commitment by CLIA cruise lines to uphold the daily cruise cap of 8,000 passengers in Santorini and the establishment of a berth allocation systemin Mykonos, a priority for ports experiencing high levels of cruise traffic.”Considering that 57% of cruise tourism in Greece (according to 2023 data) takes place in Piraeus, Santorini, and Mykonos, CLIA discussed with the Minister and the Secretary General of the Aegean and Insular Policy, Mr. Manolis Koutoulakis, the potential for expanding to new destinations elsewhere in Greece. CLIA confirmed the strong interest of cruise companies inenrichingtheir itinerarieswithadditional Greekdestinations given the vast range of opportunities on offer.The improvement and upgrade of port infrastructure and port serviceswas also discussed, and it was noted that homeporting activities represent a great economic opportunity for the country, with around 70% of vessels calling in Greek ports homeporting this yearThe discussion also addressed the importance of the cruise line industry for European shipbuilding, with around 80% of the value of the orderbook of European shipyards represented by cruise ships. The recent revitalization of the Greek shipyards can represent a positive opportunity for the Greek economy with potential business opportunities in the cruise sector including, retrofit, maintenance and refurbishment.Focusing on the decarbonization of the cruise sector, CLIA shared that it has commissioned a “Cruise Investment Plan”, a study which will identify the needs for port infrastructure, and alternative fuelsto achieve our decarbonization goals, to be completed in early 2025.CLIA also emphasizedthe need for a carefully considered adjustment periodin the increase of port dues in Greek ports and for revision of thenational law concerning tender boat operations.The implementation of the EU Regulation establishing an Entry/Exit System (EES) to register entry and exit data and refusal of entry data of third-country nationals crossing the external borders of the Member States, which will enter into force in November this year, was also discussed during a meeting of the CLIA representatives with the Border Protection Directorate of the Greek Ministry of Civil Protection.Marie-Caroline Laurent and Maria Deligianni also met with the newly appointed CEO of Piraeus Port Authority, Mr. Su Xudong, as well as with the CEO of Posidonia, Mr. Theodore Vokos, with whom they discussed the next Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum, scheduled to take place in Heraklion on May 6-7, 2025. 05 August, 2024
CLIA presents at G7 Transport Ministerial Session on Maritime Connectivity
15 April 2024, Milan – Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), represented by its European Chairman, Mr Pierfrancesco Vago, participated alongside the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), in the G7 Transport Ministerial Session on Maritime Connectivity on 13 April 2024.At the meeting, Mr Vago expressed the cruise industry’s solidarity with the wider maritime sector on the imperative to ensure seafarer safety, considering current security threats in the Red Sea and elsewhere. CLIA highlighted how the maritime sector is united in condemning the attacks and is calling upon the international community to adopt the adequate measures to protect seafarers at the next IMO Maritime Safety Committee on 15-24 May 2024, and to develop adequate solutions to the crisis. The cruise industry employs one-third of the world’s seafarers and believes that safety must be integral to any international response to the security situation.Discussions also focused on what infrastructure investment will be needed to preserve global maritime connectivity in light of international climate change commitments. Adaptability of the global maritime network to reflect the new needs in decarbonised energy sources will be a key factor in maintaining global connectivity, while meeting climate objectives.Mr Vago said, “This was an important opportunity to raise the vital issue of seafarer safety with G7 Ministers. It was also valuable to discuss the industry’s transition to a future of low and net-zero carbon fuels and what this means for future maritime connectivity. It will be vital to ensure the new types of fuels and the necessary portside infrastructure are available at scale in the locations where they are needed to avoid bottlenecks in maritime routes.”This was an important opportunity to raise the vital issue of seafarer safety with G7 Ministers. It was also valuable to discuss the industry’s transition to a future of low and net-zero carbon fuels and what this means for future maritime connectivity. It will be vital to ensure the new types of fuels and the necessary portside infrastructure are available at scale in the locations where they are needed to avoid bottlenecks in maritime routes.Pierfrancesco Vago, Europe Chairman, CLIAThe cruise industry is leading a step change in the technologies and fuels used in shipping to address the climate challenge. Within the next two decades, starting already today, there will be ships sailing that will use new types of fuels as the industry moves away from fossil fuels towards low and net-zero carbon fuels. The new technologies that the industry is deploying and testing onboard cruise ships will also be critical for wider application across maritime.To help identify future needs, CLIA recently announced that it has launched a study on global investment needs to expedite the energy transition of our sector. This study will include a mapping on the infrastructure and energy needs at ports served by the cruise sector.The cruise industry plays a critical role in maintaining and enhancing strategic maritime industrial capacity in Europe. Cruise ships represent 80% of the orderbook value for European shipyards, making our industry critical to maintaining the technical know-how of these countries in complex shipbuilding. 15 April, 2024
EU Tourism: Resilience in the climate crisis era
Travel and tourism industry unites to tackle climate changeRhodes, Greece, 9 April 2024 — Association representatives from the European travel and tourism sector (business and leisure)1 met in Rhodes, Greece, to sign a landmark declaration promising decisive action towards more sustainable travel and tourism. The joint declaration will serve as a roadmap to foster collaboration and help tourism reach its sustainability goals. Today, more than ever, the industry is committing to prioritise decarbonisation, enhance collaboration, and engage with policymakers in meaningful dialogue.With the EU elections just around the corner, we call on decision-makers to keep travel and tourism high on the political agenda and create dedicated budget lines for sustainable tourism initiatives. The declaration seeks to propel the travel and tourism industry towards a more resilient and sustainable future, while advocating for policy support at the European level.Key commitments from the declaration include:Decarbonisation: Implement comprehensive climate action plans at organisational level to minimise environmental impact.Consolidating pledges: Reaffirm and strengthen pledges to achieve decarbonisation targets by 2050, as endorsed in the Glasgow and Toulouse Declarations.Catalysing industry: Foster a culture of awareness and responsibility, by sharing best practices and providing expertise to advance decarbonisation efforts.Supporting SMEs: Assist small and medium-sized enterprises in adapting to climate challenges and accessing funding opportunities for decarbonisation initiatives.Education and training: Support initiatives to upskill and reskill the workforce and tackle sustainable skill gaps.Collaboration: Commit to regular meetings to assess progress and strengthen collaboration among stakeholders, and shape a viable regulatory landscape with European and national policymakers.Mr Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece, stated: “Thank you for inviting me to what I consider a very important event and the signing of an important declaration to the extent that it brings together so many associations and representatives of the tourism industry to highlight what indeed is the most critical issue that tourism is facing today.”“I’m also very happy that this event takes place on the island of Rhodes because we all remember very well that Rhodes was hit very hard last summer by a very substantial wildfire, but it also managed to recover incredibly quickly. I think this is testimony not just to the reaction of the state, the regional government, the municipality, but also to the way the tourism industry and the community of Rhodes came together to support visitors.”Mr George Hatzimarkos, Governor of South Aegean Region, commented: “On this historic day, European travel and tourism associations gather to discuss how the industry can act for a more sustainable and resilient future. It is a great honour for the South Aegean Region to be at the centre of the dialogue.”1. The following organisations endorse this joint declaration:A4E, ACI Europe, CLIA, ECTAA, EEIA, ERA, HOTREC, IAAPA, IRU, Ruraltour. 10 April, 2024