A recent report reveals that cruise ships emitted over four times the amount of sulphuric emissions into Europe’s atmosphere compared to all the cars on the continent last year. This is in contrast to the industry’s repeated commitments to adopting a more environmentally friendly approach, as reported by the Independent.
Increased emissions
Transport & Environment’s research reveals an increase in sulphur oxide emissions from European cruise ships, reaching 509 tonnes in 2022 compared to pre-pandemic levels of 465 tonnes. Although emissions per fuel consumption have decreased due to an UN-imposed sulphur cap, the addition of new ships has led to a rise in overall emissions. Barcelona, Civitavecchia, and Piraeus were identified as the most polluted ports, while Venice saw a significant reduction in emissions following a ban on large cruise ships. In the UK, Southampton ranked as the seventh most-polluted port, with cruise ships emitting nearly 10 times the pollutants of the city’s cars.
Tackling cruise ship pollution
Transport & Environment’s shipping campaigner emphasizes the return of cruise ships after the pandemic and the resulting toxic air pollution in port cities like Barcelona and Athens. Venice serves as an example of successfully tackling cruise ship pollution through bans and other measures such as requiring ships to use electricity at ports and adopting zero-emission fuels. Transport & Environment’s UK sustainable shipping manager calls for a shift to clean fuels like green hydrogen and binding targets for UK ports to support zero-emission technologies. Sulphur dioxide, a corrosive and acidic gas, is the main sulphur oxide causing health issues and environmental concerns.
Implementing restrictions
In addition to Venice, other European port cities such as Santorini, Palma de Mallorca, and Dubrovnik have implemented restrictions on larger cruise vessels. The mayor of Barcelona has also expressed a desire to limit the number of ships in the city’s port. Andy Harmer, managing director of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) UK & Ireland, emphasizes the cruise industry’s commitment to sustainability, with investments being made in environmental technologies and sustainable fuels, and enabling ships to connect to shoreside electricity to reduce emissions while at berth.
The global cruise industry is embracing advanced technologies and energy efficiency measures. Cruise lines are shifting towards multiple-fuel capabilities and exploring sustainable energy sources such as electric batteries, advanced biofuels, hydrogen fuel cells, and synthetic fuels. Over 80 ships in the CLIA-member fleet already have onshore power connections, with plans for retrofitting 83 more. The majority of new cruise ships expected to launch by 2028 will also be equipped with shoreside electricity connections.
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Source: Independent
