By
Rebecca Gibson |
Carnival Corporation & plc has decreased its rate of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipboard operations by 19% since 2005, which will enable it to reach its 20% reduction goal by 2015.
To meet this goal, Carnival and its ten brand lines have developed, and continue to develop, aggressive energy reduction and conservation initiatives to improve environmental impact across its ten cruise brands. In 2013, fuel consumption decreased by more than 5% percent since 2007, while the company recorded an 18% increase in the amount of non-hazardous waste recycled from its ships between 2011 and 2012.
“Carnival has made the amount of GHG emissions released an indicator of our environmental improvement and we are focused on finding innovative ways to cut down on these emissions every day,” said Jim Van Langen, vice president of management systems for Carnival Corporation. “In fact, Carnival has already reduced its emissions by more than 19% since 2005 and we are likely to exceed our goal of 20% by 2015. This speaks to our commitment to constantly look for ways to raise the bar on environmental leadership and performance.”
Carnival Corporation & plc – which comprises Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line (HAL), Princess Cruises, Seabourn, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Ibero Cruises, P&O Cruises (Australia) and P&O Cruises (UK) – currently operates 101 ships, which are all certified in accordance with the ISO 14001 standard. The standard is considered as one of the world’s leading environmental management system certifications.
As a part of its air emission reduction initiatives announced in September 2013, the company developed the industry’s first exhaust gas cleaning technology that removes pollutants from the exhaust gases at any operating condition of a ship – whether the vessel is at sea, manoeuvring, or in port. Carnival is currently installing the systems across its fleet.
In addition, 48 of Carnival’s 101 ships have advanced waste water treatment systems, which were installed voluntarily, while the company is carrying out further research to develop potential installations for new and existing ships.
Around 20% of Carnival’s fleet also feature vessel shore power systems, which enable the ships to connect to a port’s electrical grid, significantly reducing air emissions. Several vessels also have partial plug-in installations, which can be retrofitted to full installation if they are deployed on an itinerary where the port has the infrastructure and capacity for shore power connection.
AIDA Cruises, one of Carnival’s ten brands, will operate the world’s first cruise ships with the Mitsubishi Air Lubrication Systems, which reduces drag and saves propulsion power. The system enables ships to glide on an air-bubble carpet, which is predicted to save 7% of the operating power.
“This new technology enables us to operate cruise ships with the lowest emissions and in the most eco-friendly manner to date,” Van Langen said. “We are playing an important role in protecting the environment, improving the quality of air emissions and advancing technology for the industry.”
Carnival Corporation is member of several global and national organisations driving environmental and sustainability efforts. These include the Global Environmental Management Initiative, the Sustainable Shipping Initiative and the National Association for Environmental Management. Holland America is also a member of the Marine Conservation Institute’s sustainable seafood programme.
In addition, the company actively participates in a number of environmental initiatives around the globe. Carnival UK has created a partnership with the UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council to launch an instrument onboard Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 to monitor sea surface temperature, while Carnival Cruise Lines and HAL have partnered with the University of Miami in a project with the International SeaKeepers Society.