Can cruise ships be environmentally friendly?
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/can-cruise-ships-be-environmentally-friendly/a-63808004
Author: Jonas Martiny
The cruise ship industry argues that a climate-neutral and ready-to-use type of emission-free drive technology simply does not yet exist. Currently, liquefied natural gas is the most promising alternative fuel, with hydrogen, electricity and e-fuels still in development. Nevertheless, the industry is pursuing ambitious goals. By 2030, the first ships will be powered in a climate-neutral manner, Grammerstorf promises. By 2050, this will apply to entire fleets. The fact that the majority of ships will continue to be powered by diesel fuel, which has particularly poor environmental performance, is proof of how far the industry has to go, says Grammerstorf. However, standard ship equipment already includes an exhaust gas treatment system that significantly reduces emissions, he adds. Alexis Papathanassis, a professor of tourism and cruise management at Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences, also points to the industry's efforts. "Shipping companies are trying to get up to speed with the latest technology, partly with the aim of reducing energy costs," he says.