122 REPORT Cleaner and greener With the IMO deadline for reducing carbon emissions drawing closer, cruise and ferry operators are making sustainability upgrades as part of regular maintenance and interior refresh drydocks. Laura Hyde spotlights selected projects completed so far in 2025 With just five years left to reach the International Maritime Organization’s 2030 target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the global maritime industry by 20 per cent, and the 2050 target to achieve netzero carbon emissions looming, projects to retrofit decarbonisation technologies on passenger ships are on the rise. There has also been a shift in consumer consciousness surrounding travel-related carbon emissions, which is why cruise and ferry operators are spending millions equipping their fleets with the latest energy-saving and carbon reduction technologies. These projects include installing equipment such as shore power capability, energy storage and advanced wastewater treatment systems, as well as integrating renewable energy sources (such as solar panels) onboard. Shipowners are also converting engines to run on alternative fuels, including renewable biodiesel, LNG and green methanol, and coating hulls with antifouling paints to reduce drag as ships sail through the water. Drydock projects of this kind are certain to increase in number as the evidence to support the effectiveness of decarbonisation technologies grows. However, these aren’t the only types of upgrade projects taking place at shipyards across the globe. Cruise and ferry brands are also carrying out Royal Caribbean International’s Allure of the Seas in drydock at the Navantia shipyard in Cadiz
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