The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the leading voice for the global cruise industry, has released its annual Global Cruise Industry Environmental Technologies and Practices Report, showcasing the sector’s continued progress in its environmental and sustainability agenda. The report highlights investments in ships and technologies designed to reduce emissions and utilize transitional and alternative fuels, all in pursuit of a net-zero emissions goal by 2050.
“Cruise lines are continuously working to reduce their emissions both at sea and while docked, striving for net-zero emissions by 2050,” stated Kelly Craighead, president and CEO of CLIA. “This year’s report on environmental technologies demonstrates their progress, with the industry investing in engine technologies capable of conversion to utilize renewable energy sources as they become available. The report also highlights significant incremental steps to employ a range of other environmental technologies and practices to advance the industry’s broader sustainability initiatives.”
Fleet Profile and Fuel Flexibility
The CLIA-member ocean fleet now includes 303 ships, with a total capacity of 635,000 lower berths operated by 45 cruise line brands representing 90% of global capacity. This represents a 3.6% increase in ships and a 3.34% increase in capacity compared to the previous year. The majority of CLIA member cruise lines operate ships of small to mid-size, with 35% classified as small ships (fewer than 1,000 lower berths), 38% as mid-size ships (1,000 to fewer than 3,000 lower berths), and 26% as large ships (upwards of 3,000 lower berths).
CLIA member cruise lines are actively investing in new ships and engines that promote fuel flexibility. This includes the capability to use renewable biodiesel, the ability to utilize green methanol when available, and the adoption of liquified natural gas (LNG). Ships designed with engines and fuel supply systems that can operate on LNG have the advantage of being able to seamlessly switch to zero and near-zero fuels like bio or synthetic LNG in the future, without requiring engine modifications. Currently, 19 ships (representing 7% of the fleet and 13% of the fleet’s global capacity) are utilizing LNG for primary propulsion. LNG offers significant environmental benefits, with virtually zero sulfur emissions and particulate emissions, a reduction of NOx emissions by approximately 85%, and a reduction of up to 20% in GHG emissions. While methane slip, the small amounts of escaped methane associated with LNG engines, has been a concern, multiple reports confirm that methane slip is on a trajectory to be almost completely eradicated. Some industry stakeholders even claim that slip values of less than 1% can be achieved within the next few years.
Selective Catalytic Reduction Technology (SCR)
71 ships, representing 25% of the fleet and more than 20% of global capacity, are equipped with SCR systems, an increase of 34% from 2023. Selective Catalytic Reduction technology (SCR) significantly reduces particulate matter and nitrogen oxides emissions, enabling ships to meet IMO Tier III classification standards for nitrogen oxide emissions (NOx).
Onshore Power Supply (OPS)
Plugging into OPS when ships are in port allows ship engines to be shut down, resulting in significant overall pollutant emissions reductions of up to 98%, depending on the energy source mix, according to studies conducted by various 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) — a 23% increase from the previous year and a 167% increase since 2018.
* By 2028, 239 ships capable of connecting to OPS are expected to be in service, based on the number of ships scheduled for retrofitting and new ships on order 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 designed for OPS connectivity.
CLIA champions the advancement of onshore power infrastructure, recognizing it as a crucial component in the industry’s efforts to reduce emissions. The organization supports the continued development of cost-effective infrastructure for clean shoreside electricity in cruise ports, prioritizing projects where 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 equipped with OPS. 22 additional cruise ports have funding secured 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 committed to ensuring that all ships calling at ports capable of providing OPS would be equipped to either utilize shore power by 2035 or be able to use alternative low-carbon technologies, as available, to reduce emissions in port. The EU’s Fit for 55 decarbonization regulations will mandate shoreside power for major ports in Europe by 2030, further accelerating port infrastructure investment in that region.
Advanced Wastewater Treatment Systems (AWTS)
The majority of CLIA-member cruise ships currently sailing utilize advanced wastewater treatment systems (AWTS), surpassing MARPOL Annex IV requirements and exceeding the performance of shoreside treatment plants in some coastal cities. As part of their overarching sustainability focus, cruise lines have committed to never releasing 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. Over 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 these, 172 ships, nearly 60% of the fleet, are capable of producing enough water to match their total consumption.
The report highlights the cruise industry’s dedication to environmental responsibility and its commitment to reducing its environmental footprint through continuous innovation and technology adoption. As the industry moves forward, its focus on sustainability is evident in its commitment to investing in cleaner technologies and practices, ensuring a more sustainable future for cruising and the marine environment.
