98 Alex Smith speaks with sustainability leaders at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and MSC Cruises about the fuels, technologies and policies driving down the carbon footprint of passenger shipping Decarbonising passenger shipping is not a question of finding the one fuel or technology that solves everything. As regulatory pressure builds and passenger expectations shift, the industry’s route to net zero is being assembled from a portfolio of solutions – with low-carbon fuels, shore power, digital optimisation and tighter emissions accounting all playing a part. Cruise lines and their supplier networks now envisage decarbonisation as a layered engineering challenge rather than as a single switch to flip. Fuel remains the most closely watched piece of the puzzle, but there is little consensus on a silver bullet, according to Heike Naigur, senior director of sustainability at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH). “There is unlikely to be a single fuel that serves as a universal solution for the cruise industry,” she says. “We believe the transition will require a combination of technologies, fuels, and efficiency measures tailored to different vessel types, routes and infrastructure availability. NCLH’s collective action strategy focuses on efficiency, innovation and collaboration while monitoring the development of alternative fuel pathways.” Instead, Naigur foresees the industry making a transition through different types of fuel. “In the near to medium term, biofuels and LNG may play an important role by reducing emissions compared with conventional marine fuels while helping the industry build experience with alternative fuel technologies and infrastructure,” she says. “Looking further ahead, green methanol is promising because it has the potential to support deeper emissions reductions as supply scales and production pathways mature. But long-term success will depend not only on the fuel itself but also on availability, scalability, cost, safety and supporting infrastructure in ports around the world.” Mapping the decarbonisation blueprint FEATURE Photo: MSC MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys have equipped 22 of their 27 ships with shore power capabilities
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