Gas, ‘cleaner’ cruise ships with LNG on half of the new fleet by 2027

Cruise ship companies have invested and are investing billions to achieve environmental sustainability objectives and therefore the reduction of CO2 emissions by 40% by 2030 compared to 2008 levels and to reach zero emissions by 2050. And the results they are increasingly “green” ships, with reduced consumption and progressive use of increasingly cleaner fuels. The first ship powered by LNG (liquefied natural gas) has been in operation since 2018 and by 2027 the LNG will power more than half of the new fleet. This is what sources of Clia, the international association of cruise companies, report to Adnkronos. LNG is a transition fuel because it allows ships that adopt it to be ready for future generations of fuels. The companies are financing pilot projects on biofuels and synthetic fuels but also on systems based on methanol, ammonia and hydrogen, obviously with the shipbuilding sector and other partners. There are obviously still obstacles to overcome, but the companies are at the forefront of this, but gas supply is not the only change that is taking place in terms of energy because companies are making huge investments to equip ships with ground-based electrification systems where available, which allow the engines to be switched off during stops, with considerable benefits also in the ports of docking from the point of view of pollution. And that’s how more than two-thirds of cruise ships will be able to connect to shore electricity over the next five years. It is a complex issue that requires investment in port infrastructure and in which collaboration between ports, companies and institutions will be essential. Unfortunately, there are not many European ports that offer these services. We are about 7%. Some countries are leading the way, others have important development programs. Companies are ready to do their part.