74 Sustainability means different things over the lifetime of a ship. During construction of a newbuild, operators can take advantage of cutting-edge products and construction methods that help reduce their carbon footprint and enhance their green reputation. But once the ship is in service, all of these innovations are put to the test when it comes to keeping them clean, safe and functional. Further into the ship’s working life, there are important decisions to be made regarding how to manage scheduled refurbishments in a way that doesn’t cost the planet. This section of the report highlights a selection of solutions cruise and ferry companies have shared with us. Maintenance Sustainable cleaning products are a major area of focus for operators seeking to reduce the harm done to the environment by regular maintenance. Disney Cruise Line says: “Crew members use biodegradable cleaning products wherever possible, avoiding potentially harmful phosphates and other chemicals associated with traditional cleaners.” TT-Line uses biodegradable chemicals and detergents while Tallink Group states: “Most of the detergents used by our cleaning personnel onboard our ships are biochemicals.” Elixir Boutique Cruises says: “We utilise environmentally friendly cleaning products.” Stena Line has introduced a novel way of reducing the use of all cleaning products: “By utilising microfibre cloths when cleaning we manage to keep the use of detergents to a minimum. The idea first came from a staff member on board the Stena Nordica in 2013 and has now become standard on all Scandinavian vessels.” Stena AB says it has been working actively for many years to increase the proportion of eco-labelled cleaning products onboard. “In 2020 64 per cent of all the cleaning products on their vessels operating in Scandinavia were eco-labelled.” The basic mantra of “Reduce, reuse, recycle” is still popular with cruise and ferry lines. Ideas shared for this report include Attica Group’s “Use clean damaged sheets, towels, pillowcases and other fabrics to clean various surfaces and in the engine room, with over 40,000 reused in 2020” and Irish Ferries’ “Bulk purchasing to reduce the number of deliveries and packaging, and segregation of all waste cardboard packaging for recycling.” Caledonian MacBrayne favours “Optimising and efficiently using resources whilst maximising reuse and recycling opportunities and minimising waste,” while Condor Ferries opts to “minimise our waste and then reuse or recycle as much of it as possible.” Mitsui O.S.K. Lines participates in ‘Plastic Smart’ initiatives hosted by the Ministry of the Environment of Japan. Maintenance and refurbishment CURRENT REPORTED ACT I V I T Y
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