Cruise Industry Going Green

Daily Echo
March 3, 2010

Making sure the deep blue of the oceans stays green, Southampton's cruise ships are using some of the latest environment friendly systems to lessen the impact of vessels on their surroundings.

However, Micky Arison, the boss of the world's biggest cruising company, which owns Southampton based Cunard, P&O Cruises, and Princess Cruises has warned there is, as yet, no “silver bullet'' when it comes to concerns over pollution and reducing a vessel's carbon footprint.

Mr Arison outlined the group's environmental responsibilities as part of the 2010 cruise report, which annually examines trends within the industry.

Cruise ship operators, which take passengers to some of the planet's most ecologically sensitive areas including, Alaska, Norwegian fjords, both the Arctic and Antarctica, Australia's Great Barrier Reef, and the South Pacific, are now only too aware their customers expect the highest standards when its comes to safeguarding the environment.

Mr Arison said: “We are dedicated to preserving the marine environment in which we operate, and therefore believe it is our duty to introduce environmental practices which set a high standard of excellence and responsibility.

“Technology is one answer to the challenges we face but, in terms of finding another radically different way of powering our ships in an even-more environmental fashion.

“Various, alternative energy sources have been put forward but they all have their problems, even liquid natural gas would need massive on-board storage space.

“In the meantime we are lowering our energy consumption every year by three to four per cent through a variety of solutions from new paints and hull coatings, to simply slowing the ships down.

“Longer, seven day, transatlantic crossings to and from Southampton and New York are one major change which will mean a greener, as well as a lower cost operation.'' Southampton cruise ships are reducing air emissions through the implementation of fuel efficiency measures, low energy lamps, increased recirculation of waste heat and improved efficiency in air conditioning.