By
Elly Yates-Roberts |
Cruise Baltic has committed to a more sustainable future for shipping by developing a new manifesto focused on reducing air pollution and congestion in ports and cities across the Baltic region. All 29 of the association’s participating destinations signed the document.
The pledge was signed at the Baltic Sustainable Cruise Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark on 7 May, where over 160 international cruise representatives gathered to discuss the future of the industry in the Baltic region. It marked the start of the Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark’s project to reduce air pollution from cruise ships in the region, which will run until 2022.
“It is a prerequisite for the work on green transformation in the cruise industry that there is agreement among cities, ports and shipping companies to make sustained effort,” said Claus Bødker, director of Cruise Baltic. ”Thus, this manifesto represents a major step towards a more sustainable future and it is fantastic to experience such great support and motivation across the entire industry.”
The conference covered many topics to fulfill green targets, including initiatives for providing onshore power supplies for ships and tackling congestion. Wonderful Copenhagen, the city’s tourist board, showed how spreading cruise passenger over larger areas on land not only avoids congestion, but also results in guest satisfaction.
“No one is more interested in eradicating environmental issues than the cruise industry itself,” said Bødker. ”The conference marked the beginning of a greener future and a strong global cooperation. Now we will all return home to execute the goals we have set together.”