Cruise industry giants are accelerating the shift to a greener future, with biofuels and LNG leading the charge in the race to net zero emissions by 2050.
Costa Smerelda conducting LNG bunkering in Dubai
The global cruise industry has indicated its commitment supporting a sustainable future, investing in low-carbon renewable fuel alternatives, and biofuels have emerged as a key player in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise company, is at the forefront of this transformation, trialling biofuels and investing in LNG to power its fleet as part of its commitment to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
The ambitious goal is part of a broader movement to decarbonise the shipping industry and address its environmental impact, with all the big cruise players making significant strides toward reducing their environmental footprint.
Royal Caribbean International has invested heavily in sustainability through its comprehensive Destination Net Zero strategy, which includes introducing liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered ships and exploring fuel cell technology.
Icon and Star of the Seas
The company’s new Icon Class ships utilise LNG and fuel cells to lower emissions dramatically, while the cruise line has also focused on improving energy efficiency through advanced hull designs, air lubrication systems, and shore power capabilities to reduce reliance on traditional fuels while docked.
Norwegian Cruise Line has also committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. As part of its Sail & Sustain programme, the cruise line is actively exploring the use of biofuels and investing in carbon offset initiatives. The company’s new Prima Class ships are designed to be 20% more energy efficient than their predecessors, incorporating cutting-edge energy-saving technologies.
Norwegian Prima is the first ship of a new six-vessel line-up
NCL is also working to increase its use of shore power to reduce emissions while in port, aligning with broader maritime sustainability goals.
MSC Cruises is another big cruise line that has set ambitious targets under its Journey to Net Zero programme. The company is investing in LNG-powered ships and is a frontrunner in testing hydrogen fuel cell technology.
MSC World Europa, launched in 2022, is the first in its fleet to feature LNG propulsion and is designed to integrate future low-carbon fuels like bio-methane. MSC is also partnering with global research institutions to develop scalable solutions for carbon capture and storage on its ships.
MSC Euribia in 2023 sailed the cruise industry’s first zero emissions cruise
The cruise line in 2023 made history when it sailed the cruise industry’s first-ever zero-emissions cruise, utilising a mix of bio-LNG and careful itinerary planning. The cruise was groundbreaking, but was operated without passengers and is not currently scalable due to severe supply chain limitations for bio-LNG, a key challenge MSC Cruises is working to address.
Carnival has also been a leader in adopting liquefied natural gas (LNG) as an alternative fuel source. Currently, Carnival has ten LNG-capable ships in operation, with plans to add six more by 2033. These vessels will comprise nearly one-third of the company’s global fleet, and because LNG ships are designed to be compatible with future fuels such as bio-methane and synthetic methane, it offers long-term flexibility.
Carnival’s regional hub at Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal in the United Arab Emirates recently became the first cruise port in the region to offer LNG bunkering, with Costa Smerelda taking on 3,000 cubic metres during her 2024/25 cruise season in the Arabian Gulf.
While LNG has become the go-to lower-carbon fuel source for the cruise industry, biofuels are seen as the best stop-gap solution in the absence of a true net-zero fuel source, and Carnival is leading the charge in research and development of these alternatives.
Biofuels are renewable liquid fuels derived from organic sources such as fats, oils, used cooking grease, and food waste. Unlike traditional marine gas oil (MGO), which contributes significantly to GHG emissions, biofuels offer a much cleaner alternative. Research suggests that biofuels can reduce lifecycle GHG emissions by up to 86% compared to conventional marine fuels.
One of the primary advantages of biofuels is their compatibility with existing ship engines. This means that ships can use biofuels without requiring costly or complex modifications to their propulsion systems. This plug-and-play capability makes biofuels an attractive short-term solution for reducing emissions while the industry works towards the adoption of zero-carbon fuels. However, achieving widespread use of biofuels depends on overcoming critical challenges related to scalability, cost, and supply chain infrastructure.
The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has projected that the cruise industry will see a growing number of vessels adopting alternative fuels over the next five years. New ships currently in production are being designed with the capability to integrate zero-carbon fuels as they become commercially available.
However, significant barriers remain. The cost of biofuels, their limited availability, and the lack of a robust global supply chain are major hurdles that must be addressed before biofuels can become a viable mainstream option.
Carnival Corporation is actively collaborating with producers, research organisations, universities, and non-governmental organisations to advance the development and availability of biofuels. These partnerships are focused on creating the necessary infrastructure and addressing the economic challenges that currently limit the scalability of biofuels.
Since 2022, the company has conducted successful pilot programmes using biofuels across several ships in its global fleet.
These include AIDAprima from AIDA Cruises, Volendam and Rotterdam from Holland America Line, and Carnival Magicfrom Carnival Cruise Line. The trials have delivered promising results, demonstrating the potential of biofuels to significantly reduce emissions without compromising operational efficiency.
Beyond shipboard operations, Carnival Corporation is also exploring innovative ways to incorporate biofuels into its onshore activities. In Juneau, Alaska, for example, the company partnered with a local biofuel refiner to convert used cooking oil from its ships into fuel for tour buses. Additionally, used vehicle oil and fryer oil from Carnival’s operations are repurposed for heating at five of the company’s lodge and motorcoach locations.
Biofuels represent just one element of Carnival Corporation, and the wider cruise industry’s, sustainability strategy.
In addition to LNG and biofuels, Carnival Corporation is investing in cutting-edge technologies to further reduce its environmental impact. The company is trialling a first-of-its-kind lithium-ion battery storage system to supplement its ships’ main energy supply.
This innovation is part of a broader effort to explore energy storage solutions that can enhance fuel efficiency and lower emissions.
Carnival is also implementing advanced technologies to improve the energy efficiency of its existing fleet. Investments in Power Saver Packs—comprehensive technology upgrades—are helping reduce the energy required for onboard systems and services.
Air lubrication systems (ALS) have been installed on several ships, enabling them to glide through the water with less friction, thereby reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Furthermore, Carnival continues to expand its shore power capabilities, allowing its ships to use renewable energy sources while docked.
Operational efficiency extends beyond fuel and technology. Carnival Corporation has redesigned many of its itineraries to minimise energy with shorter distances, optimised cruising speeds, and other operational improvements. These efforts have resulted in significantly reduced fuel consumption and emissions, demonstrating that sustainability and guest satisfaction can go hand in hand.
As the world’s largest cruise company, Carnival Corporation’s efforts support wide scale investment in LNG and biofuel supply chains
As the world’s largest cruise company, Carnival Corporation’s efforts help to create the conditions necessary for the widespread adoption of sustainable practices.
The company’s biofuel trials, for example, provide valuable data that can inform future research and development efforts. These trials not only demonstrate the feasibility of using biofuels in commercial shipping but also encourage other industry players to invest in similar initiatives.
While Carnival Corporation has made significant progress, the path to net zero emissions by 2050 remains challenging. Achieving this goal will require continued innovation, investment, and collaboration. The company’s roadmap emphasises the need for a diverse approach that includes biofuels, LNG, energy efficiency technologies, and other alternative fuels.
The key problem for big cruise lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and MSC, is that they operate huge cruise ships that are essentially floating resorts, incorporating hotels, theme parks, shopping malls and waterparks. Making these vessels truly net-zero will require a completely new approach to design and operation.
Sea Zero
The small, Norwegian coastal cruise line Hurtigurten is leading the way in showing how this might be done. It’s vessel, Sea Zero, is a kind of proof-of-concept for net-zero operations. Hurtigurten’s design calls for the total elimination of emissions through a combination of sail and battery power.
Hurtigruten says Sea Zero is the result of a study of the most promising emerging technologies and a year-long design process with 12 maritime partners and the research institute SINTEF in Norway. The ship concept will use batteries, retractable sails with solar panels, and AI technologies to achieve true zero-emissions cruising with passengers, and is expected to launch in 2030.
While cruise lines have focused on LNG and biofuels as alternatives to heavy fuel oil and marine diesel to lower emissions, the Italian shipyard Fincantieri has begun to assess the feasibility of reintroducing nuclear energy into the cruise industry.
Fincantieri announced in 2023 that it had signed an agreement with newcleo, a nuclear energy company, and Rina, the Italy-based ship classification and engineering organisation, to study nuclear power applications for large ships.
The feasibility study on newcleo’s lead-cooled small modular reactor (SMRs) technology and its application aboard large ocean-going vessels, raises the possibility for its use aboard cruise ships in future as the industry urgently looks to decarbonise.
The SMR technology would be used in the development of an LFR (lead-cooled fast reactor), which would involve placing a closed mini reactor on vessels as a small nuclear battery producing 30 MW, according to a statement from Fincantieri.
NS Savannah
Nuclear propulsion in the maritime industry is of course reserved at present to submarines and aircraft carriers, primarily those of the US Navy, but nuclear energy in the cruise industry isn’t a new idea. In 1961 NS Savannah was launched, a cargo-passenger liner powered by a nuclear reactor.
The ship’s futuristic design made carrying cargo difficult, and her passenger areas weren’t large enough to be profitable, while widespread scepticism about her safety made ports calls difficult to arrange, so the ship was never more than a proof of concept.
The cruise industry’s path to net-zero emissions is complex and filled with challenges, but innovation continues to push boundaries.
While biofuels and LNG provide immediate solutions, forward-thinking projects like Hurtigruten’s Sea Zero and Fincantieri’s nuclear feasibility study hint at a future where zero-emission cruising could become a reality. As the industry grapples with sustainability, the next decade will be crucial in determining whether today’s alternative fuels remain stepping stones or give way to entirely new propulsion systems that redefine the way cruise ships operate.
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Appeared first on: Cruisearabiaonline.com
