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We Are #SailingSustainably
Cruise lines are leading the way towards a more sustainable future, investing in innovative technologies aboard a global fleet of cruise ships.
Quick Links: Sustainability Videos | NEW! Charting the Future of Sustainable Cruise Travel | New Wave Magazine | Renewable Fuels, LNG, Sustainable Marine Fuels & Hybrid Solutions | Shoreside Electricity Capability | Protecting Our Oceans | Supporting Innovations | Our Journey by the Numbers | Latest Sustainability News
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NEW Video: Charting the Future of Sustainable Travel |
Video: Sailing to a Better Future |
NEW! Charting the Future of Sustainable Cruise Travel
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CLIA Member Cruise Lines have set inspiring sustainability goals and each year the CLIA Member fleet becomes more efficient as our member lines embrace new technologies, innovations and, as available, the uptake of sustainable alternative fuels. Read more about the work of the cruise industry to sail to an even better future in our latest publication Charting the Future of Sustainable Cruise Travel. |
New Wave
CLIA Australasia showcases the industry's sustainability advances and destinations stewardship in its New Wave magazine. The publication highlights some of the technological advances being pioneered by cruise lines worldwide they work to accelerate the maritime transition toward net zero, such as alternative fuels, new sources of clean energy, and other technologies. The latest issue of New Wave also features wildlife protection projects, and more. Select a magazine icon to read more:
Fueling the Future
Renewable fuels and alternative energy sources
Various CLIA member lines are trialing, using, and incorporating into new-build ships the capability to run on renewable fuels, including biofuels and synthetic carbon fuels.
- 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 have biofuel trials and two have synthetic carbon fuel 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.
Liquified Natural Gas (LNG)
As the industry anticipates the transition to a future of sustainable, renewable fuels, several cruise ships are utilising liquified natural gas (LNG). Ships designed with LNG engines and fuel supply systems are able to switch to bio or synthetic LNG in the future, with little or no modifications.
- Today, 48% of new-build capacity will be designed with LNG engines and fuel supply systems. 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 analysis by SeaLNG and others, LNG is currently the fossil fuel available at scale that has the best performance in reducing atmospheric emissions. LNG has virtually zero sulfur emissions and particulate emissions, reduces NOx emissions by approximately 85%, and achieved up to a 20% reduction in greenhouse emissions.
Sustainable Marine Fuels
The cruise industry is at the forefront of exploring sustainable marine fuels, including biofuels and other advaned approaches such as biodiesel, methanol, ammonia, hydrogen, and electric batteries.
Hybrid Solutions
More than 15% of the new vessels to be launched in the next five years will be equipped to incorporate fuel cells or batteries, as part of a hybrid approach toward lowering the carbon footprint of the voyage.
Shoreside Electricity (SSE) Capabilities
Plugging into shoreside electricity allows ship engines to be switched off, reducing emissions by up to 98%, depending on the mix of energy sources, while ship is in port, according to studies conducted by a number of the world's ports and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Where can cruise ships connect?
While today, across the CLIA cruise line member fleet, 120 (46% of the total and a 48% increase in the number of ships with SSE since 2022) are equipped to connect to shoreside electricity, only 34 ports worldwide have at least one cruise berth equipped with onshore power. This represents just 2% of the world's ports where cruise ships can plug in and reduce emissions.
Click here to download the map below.
Protecting Our Oceans
As part of their overarching sustainability focus, cruise lines have committed to not discharging untreated sewage anywhere in the world, during normal operations. In additional, cruise lines utilise Advanced Wastewater Treatment Systems that operate to a higher standard than shoreside treatment plants in many coastal cities and go well beyong international requirements.
- 100% of new ships on order are specified to have advanced waterwater treatment systems
- 80% of the current CLIA ocean-going cruise line fleet capacity is served by advanced wastewater treatment systems (a 12% increase over 2022)
- Across the CLIA cruise line member fleet, 202 ships (77% of the total), representing 80% of global passenger capacity (a 12% increase from 2022) are equipped with advanced wastewater treatment systems
- All CLIA member cruise line new-build ships are specified for advanced wastewater treatment systems - which will bring the total to 242 ships, representing 80% of the fleet and 84% of global capacity
- In addition, since 2019, the number of ships with advanced wastewater treatement systems capable of meeting the more stringent standards of the Baltic Sea Special Area has increased 167%. Today, nearly one-third of CLIA member ships have this capability
A Sea of Supporting Innovations
Supporting these environmental technologies are a sea of of innovations and practices that are helping the cruise industry sail to a greener future.
- Exhaust gas cleaning systems that improve air quality at sea and in port
- Air lubrication systems for ship hulls to reduce drag and fuel consumption for greater efficiency
- Energy-efficient engines that consume less fuel and reduce emissions
- LED lighting - lasts 25 times longer and uses 80% less energy
- Special paint coatings for ship hulls that reduce fuel consumption by up to 5%
- Installation of tinted windows, higher efficiency appliances and HVAC systems and windows that cpature and recycle heat
- Advanced recycling systems and practices that allows some ships to recycle 100% of waste
Our Journey by the Numbers
We're measuring our journey toward a more sustainable future using aggregated data across CLIA's global oceangoing cruise line membership. This data reflects the number of ships equipped with certain technologies, corresponding passenger capacities (lower berth at double occupancy) and the percentage of the entire fleet represented.
