A ‘new generation’ of cruise ships will be more eco-friendly, Clia has said after an investigation by Channel 4’s Dispatches scrutinised the pollution and waste levels of cruise ships.
The episode entitled ‘Secrets of Your Cruise’ claimed air pollution on some ships is double that of central London.
But with 87 ships due to be fitted or refitted with alternative fuel options until 2026, Clia suggested the industry would likely become more environmentally minded.
Clia said: “Clia member cruise lines take great care to ensure that each new generation of ships is more eco-friendly than the previous one and our members are committed to fitting existing ships with the latest technology as part of continued improvements across the industry.
“Environmental sustainability is at the heart of the cruise lines’ economic models and it has been the absolute leader in the development and deployment of environmental technology innovations for decades.
“Clia members have invested more than a billion dollars in technologies to minimise emissions and alternative fuel orders are in place for 87 cruise ships between 2017 and 2026.
“We take our environmental commitment very seriously, it is the right thing to do, and we will continue to focus on improvement in this area as a priority across the sector.”
Dispatches investigators travelled on P&O Cruises’ 17-year-old ship Oceana in the Mediterranean and during the sailing measured pollution levels and spoke with customers.
One reading on the ship found air pollution of 84,000 ultrafine particles per cubic centimetre. This is more than double the 38,400 ultrafine particles per cubic centimetre found at Piccadilly Circus by the programme.
Carnival Corporation, which owns P&O Cruises, said that cruise ships made up less than 1% of the world’s 50,000 commercial maritime vessels.
“Although a tiny fraction of the global maritime industry, cruise lines are leaders in implementing alternative fuels and emission-reduction technology,” the company said.
Presenter Tazeen Ahmed also highlighted the exhaust fumes emitted by ships at sea are not covered by regulations that limit emissions on land.
She demonstrated how heavy fuel oil that powers ships’ engines is allowed to contain 3,500 times more sulphur than road fuel.
Some viewers on social media said the programme ‘struggled’ to be sensational.
Steve Dunne, chief executive of Digital Drums and commentator for Travel Weekly said: “[I am] halfway through @C4Dispatches programme [and] I am not entirely sure what #Dispatches is trying to prove.
“[It] wants to be sensational but [is] struggling.”
Richard Twynam, UK managing director for Azamara Club Cruises said it offered a ‘pretty formulaic approach’.
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TV documentary to put cruise industry environmental record under scrutiny