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Although flying produces an estimated 36 times more carbon dioxide than sea travel, the cruise industry is trying hard to be greener

An average cruise passenger’s carbon footprint is a complicated formula to work out. However, experts agree that, first the distance of any cruise itinerary must be calculated. This is then multiplied by the amount of greenhouses gas emissions that each passenger creates – approximately 0.30kg per passenger per kilometer, based on a typical cruise ship, if there is such a thing.

Thus, for a 7-day cruise of about 2,000 nautical miles, the calculation is 3,200 km x 0.30 = 960 tons (the approximate equivalent of planting four native trees).

Although marine vessels are responsible for almost 3 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases, the world’s fleet of around 350 ocean-going cruise ships produces just 0.1% of those emissions. But can the cruise industry achieve the proposed international sulphur emissions (NOx) reduction to 0.5%, set to be introduced in 2020?

Cruise companies are already working to achieve an integrated, industry-wide approach to reduce air emissions, to provide more fuel-efficient ships, and to retrofit some existing, older ships with more efficient replacement machinery. New ships will also benefit from better hydrodynamic hull design and advanced hull coatings can also improve efficiency. Careful handling of solid and liquid waste also results in lower fuel consumption, and, therefore, CO2 emissions. Further, flue gas from shipboard incinerators is controlled and ozone-depleting substances are prohibited.

MSC Fantasia, for example, uses only low-sulphur fuels worldwide. Main and auxiliary engines are certified for NOx emissions in accordance with the latest IMO-MARPOL Annex VI requirements. Celebrity Solstice-class ships have 80 solar panels that help provide power for elevators.

Other eco-friendly measures include the use of LED lighting rather than fuel-guzzling halogen lighting; the use of chilled river rocks, which retain low temperatures well, rather than ice for buffet items; heat-deflecting window coatings, and greater use of the latest wastewater treatment technology. While all these measures help, they must be weighed against the costs involved in implementing them.

Additionally, an International Convention on the Management of Ballast Water and Sediments (wastewater discharge), is being introduced by the IMO in 2010. Cruise ships, however, contribute less than 1% of nutrients released into the sea, with nitrogen and phosphorous representing about half of all such nutrients released.

“Cold Ironing” – plugging a ship into a land-based energy supply capable of running a ship’s essential functions while in port – certainly makes sense in areas where electricity can be generated from renewable sources – as is the case in Juneau, Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle, and Vancouver – rather than being taken from the national grid. Expect more city ports to build this option into their infrastructure.

What is MARPOL?
Short for “Marine Pollution,” the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78 – the dates refer to its adoption) is the convention that all United Nation countries subscribe to. It was designed to minimize pollution of the oceans and seas, including dumping, and pollution by oil and exhaust gases, whether by operational or accidental causes.

The original MARPOL Convention was signed on 17 February 1973, but did not come into force then. The present Convention took effect on 2 October 1983. Presently, some 136 countries, representing 98% of the world’s shipping tonnage, are signatories to the Convention. Ships flagged under these countries are subject to its requirements, regardless of where they sail.

THE 136 SIGNATORIES TO MARPOL

Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Austria, the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burma, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam

Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2010