If they continue to grow at this rate, the biggest cruise ships in 2050 could amount to a staggering 345,000 gross tonnage carrying nearly 11,000 passengers, making them almost eight times bigger than the Titanic. The rapid growth in cruise holidays and increase in cruise ship sizes comes at a significant environmental cost, says T&E, which calls on cruise liners to invest in green technologies to reduce their impact on the planet and local air pollution.
For cruise ships, only the sea is the limit. Over the last half of a century, the global cruise industry has been growing rapidly. The number of ships has increased more than twenty-fold from only 21 ships in 1970 to 515 vessels today. While cruise vacations still maintain an image of luxury, they are becoming a mainstream holiday option in developed countries, with nearly 36 million holidaymakers projected to take a cruise voyage in 2024.
As a result of such rapid growth, these floating cities emit more greenhouse gases and pollutants than ever before. Between 2019 and 2022, CO2 emissions from cruise ships in Europe grew by 17% despite the COVID-19 pandemic, and methane emissions surged by 500%.
Inesa Ulichina, sustainable shipping officer at T&E, said: “Today’s cruisezillas make the Titanic look like a small fishing boat. How much bigger can these giants get? The cruise business is the fastest growing tourism sector and its emissions are quickly getting out of control.” In January 2024, the world’s largest cruise ship to date, the Icon of the Seas, was launched. The floating city contains 40 restaurants, 7 swimming pools and can carry 7600 passengers. It is longer than 15 blue whales and is five times bigger than the Titanic.
In the face of backlash, many cruise operators are switching to liquefied natural gas (LNG) as an alternative to traditional shipping fuels like heavy fuel oil. LNG-powered ships make up 38% of global cruise ship orders today. While LNG emits less pollutants and CO2 when burned, it releases methane, a greenhouse gas over 80 times more potent than CO2. Methane slips from LNG engines can make these ships more harmful to the climate than traditional shipping fuels.
Inesa Ulichina, added: “The only green and scalable solution for decarbonising maritime activities is e-fuels. Cruising is a luxury business and operators must take responsibility for their climate impact. If they want to avoid becoming increasingly unwanted visitors, they must clean up their act.”
4 comments
To be able to write a comment, you have to be registered and logged in
Twadde. Natural gas doesn't emit methane, it is methane. Who would emit a useful fuel that can be burned? What you are referring to is 'slip' or leakage, not emissions.
No-one benefits, except the elite few who allow it to happen in the first place.
Will you stop making up stories about ships that don’t exist and imaginary passenger numbers. Has someone in the office let the heat get to them today?
Can the Port Authority limit the number of Mega Cruise Ships that dock in Palma? Can they stipulate only non methane gas Ships. That are ecologically free of pollution. Are Cruise Arrivals viable? Does Mallorca benefit substantially and financially from these Ships ?