Nearly half of all new cruise builds to rely on LNG fuel: CLIA

The cruise industry has made “unprecedented” progress implementing green technology and practices, according to a new report by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).

CLIA cruise lines have invested over $22 billion in ships with new environmental measures, alongside several initiatives outlined in the third annual Global Cruise Industry Environmental Technologies and Practices Report.

Among the findings is that 44 per cent of new build capacity will rely on LNG fuel for primary propulsion – a 60 per cent increase in overall capacity compared to last year.

Furthermore, all new ships on order are specified to have advanced wastewater treatment systems (an increase of 26 per cent over 2018). As it stands, 68 per cent of the CLIA cruise lines’ global fleet capacity is served by advanced wastewater treatment systems.

Adding to that is shore-side power capability – an initiative that allows ships to power down at port. Currently, 16 ports visited by CLIA cruise lines provide shore-side power capacity; however, not all berths at each port have the technology, and coordination with respect to using the proper berths is underdeveloped.

Shore-side power availability is also limited geographically, as almost all the capability is on the east and west coasts of North America, the port of Kristiansand, Norway, the Port of Hamburg, Germany, and the port of Shanghai.

Much of the new build capacity (88 per cent) is either committed to be fitted with shore-side electricity systems or will be configured to add shore-side power in the future, CLIA noted.

An additional 18 per cent of the current capacity is planned to be retrofitted with shore-side electricity systems, representing a more than 300 per cent increase in capacity from 2018.

More than 68 per cent of global capacity utilises EGCS to meet or exceed air emissions requirements, representing an increase in capacity of 17 per cent compared to last year.

Additionally, 75 per cent of non-LNG new builds will have EGCS installed, an increase in capacity of 8 per cent compared to last year.

The report also noted that more than 68 per cent of global capacity utilise exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) to meet or exceed air emissions requirements – an increase in capacity of 17 per cent from 2018. Additionally, 75 per cent of non-LNG new builds will have EGCS installed.

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clia cruise lines international association LNG fuel sustainability