Cruise lines complied with new global limits on sulphur emissions ahead of their introduction on January 1, according to industry association Clia.
Compliance with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) limits is “proceeding well”, says the association, insisting: “Clia is not aware of any problems.”
The IMO 2020 limits cut the permissible sulphur content in ship fuel outside designated emission control areas (ECAs) from 3.5% to 0.5%.
The limit is lower at 0.1% in these control areas – the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, North American coastal waters and the US Caribbean.
Brian Salerno, Clia senior vice-president for maritime policy, said: “The cruise industry was an early adopter of new [emissions control] technology [because] cruise ships make more port calls, operate near to population centres and operate more often in emissions control areas.
He added: “We’re proceeding under the assumption the limit will be enforced. We expect strict implementation in Europe and in the US, which are the two major cruise destinations.”
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There were concerns ahead of January that enforcement would be inconsistent given IMO rules are policed by ports and flag states where ships are registered.
However, fellow Clia senior vice-president for maritime policy Donnie Brown said: “The cruise industry’s focus goes well beyond compliance with IMO limits.
“There has been significant activity to address greenhouse gases, with an IMO target to reduce carbon emissions by 40% by 2030 compared with 2008, and a total reduction in overall emissions of 50% by 2050, with a reduction to zero as soon as possible this century.”
Brown insisted: “The cruise industry is aligned with the IMO target.” However, he added: “We recognise reducing emissions by 40% by 2030 will be a challenge.”
Salerno noted the standard approach to meeting the limit in shipping was “to use fuel that complies”.
However, compliant fuel did not address the stricter limits on sulphur in emission control areas where the cruise industry “already has extensive experience”.
‘Fuel costs will be a consideration’
For that reason, cruise lines’ preferred option has been to use exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCSs) which “almost completely remove exhaust gas and 50% of particulates”.
Brown insisted: “These have been found to be safe, including in open-loop mode [discharging wastewater into the ocean].”
A third option is to use liquified natural gas (LNG) as fuel. Brown noted: “Two cruise ships currently use LNG for their primary propulsion, with 25 more under construction or on order.”
He acknowledged cost is one factor in deciding cruise lines’ approach, saying: “The decision on which route to take is largely a business decision – in many cases, a decision made years ago.
“I can’t speak to the comparative costs, but the costs of systems and the fluctuating costs of fuel will be a consideration. But there can be other factors.”
Exhaust gas cleaning systems, which remove the sulphur in heavy fuel oil by dissolving it in seawater, have been banned from open-mode operation – releasing the water into the sea – by China, Hong Kong, Singapore and some Caribbean islands.
Clia has published several surveys suggesting the discharged wash water is safe, and Brown said: “We think the restrictions [on EGCSs] are unnecessary.
“There continues to be engagement between the industry and authorities in those ports [banning use of EGCSs in open mode].”
Salerno dismissed a suggestion that the age of some ships is a factor.
He said: “The average age of the global cruise ship fleet is about 14 years. Some ships are older, some brand new.
“Age is not so much the issue. The important thing is how well ships are maintained. It’s in the interests of the cruise industry to keep ships very well maintained.”