1 2 8 REPORT Elly Yates-Roberts looks at some of the companies, products and technologies that are helping ship operators to reach sustainability targets and reduce their environmental impact Improving environmental performance Sustainability continues to guide many business conversations. Organisations worldwide are taking stock of their operations and exploring what they can do to improve them in line with environmental targets. In July 2022, Carnival Corporation released its 12th annual sustainability report, which highlighted its commitment to reduce its carbon emission intensity by 2030 and to achieve net carbon-neutral ship operations by 2050. MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean Group and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings also aim to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, with the latter also investing in carbon offset schemes. Ferry lines are also part of the change. Swedish firm Stena Line aims to reduce its carbon emissions by 30 per cent and launch its first emission-less ferry by 2030, and Canada-based BC Ferries has transitioned to using renewable electricity sources for its shore operations and as part of its shore power connections. Alongside this, many other stakeholders in the cruise and ferry industries have been creating and implementing solutions to make things better. A lot of this happens in the behindthe-scenes operations of cruise ships and ferries. Onboard water usage, responsible waste handling, efficient energy use and alternative energy sources – these are just some of the ways that organisations are helping to meet the regulations set out by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) has a vested interest in ensuring the success of these IMO sustainability goals. In fact, it is an ambassador for two organisations at the forefront of marine protection: the North American Marine Environment Protection Association and Eyesea, which maps global pollution with maritime hazards. “At the regulatory level, we are also part of a group of experts convened by the Cruise Ship Safety Forum to analyse alternative Carbon Intensity Indicator calculation metrics that will drive continued reduction in carbon intensity,” says Captain Ghulam Hussain, deputy director of maritime affairs at The BMA. “The group, whose work should be complete by 2026, will discuss guiding principles, review potential alternative metrics and share technical and operational knowledge.” A precious resource In order to provide drinking water on these vessels, operators must store fresh water in holding tanks or convert salt water into potable water. Both approaches have their limitations. The first is hindered by the rising price of
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