Newbuild cruisehips ranked by eco performance
The list, which considers fuel used and emission abatement technologies installed, singled out AIDA and Costa Cruises for praise. “If the ships enter the market as announced, they will be a worldwide model for high seas ships,” said NABU in a statement.
AIDA and Costa shared the pole position by virtue of parent company Carnival Corporation’s recent order with ship builder Lloyd Werft for four cruise ships for delivery after 2019. They will be the first cruiseships to run primarily on LNG, and will also feature scrubbers (for when burning heavy fuel oil), selective catalytic reduction, particulate matter filters and shore power supply.
The association also praised AIDA’s newbuilds to be delivered next year. Prima and Mia feature the full suite of environmental technologies but – along with the remaining 24 vessels listed by NABU – will run mainly or entirely on HFO.
The newest four deliveries in TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff series, with entry into service ranging from 2015 to 2019, will feature scrubbers and SCR systems, and will be equipped to receive shore power. But the most popular option for emissions abatement equipment – chosen by MSC, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean and P&O Cruises for a total of 12 vessels – is for scrubbers only, cleaning the exhaust of HFO-fuelled vessels.
A further five vessels from Viking Ocean and Ponant – two of which entered service last year – feature no emissions abatement technology, according to NABU.
Malte Siegert, head of environmental policy at NABU Hamburg, said: “The city of Hamburg decided to equip the cruise terminal in Altona with an onshore power supply that cost several million euros, and to finance the infrastructure on land for an LNG barge at the Hafencity cruise terminal.
“Ship owners now need to make use of the energy provided so engines can be shut down during berthing time. Still ships need to be equipped with SCR catalysts and diesel particulate filters because once the plug is pulled from onshore power, a ship continues to emit health impairing emissions in the port and on the river Elbe.”
