CLIA Highlights New Generation of Eco-Friendly Ships, After Channel 4 Dispatches Exposure

Last night Channel 4 dispatches investigators travelled on P&O Cruises’ 17-year-old ship Oceana in the Mediterranean and during the sailing measured pollution levels and spoke with customers.

The episode entitled ‘Secrets of Your Cruise’ claimed air pollution on some ships is double that of central London. One reading on the ship found air pollution of 84,000 ultra-fine particles per cubic centimetre. This is more than double the 38,400 ultra-fine particles per cubic centimetre found at London’s Piccadilly Circus by the programme.

However a ‘new generation’ of cruise ships will be more Eco-friendly, Clia has said after an investigation by Channel 4’s Dispatches scrutinised the pollution and waste levels of cruise ships.

But with 87 ships due to be fitted or refitted with alternative fuel options by 2026, Clia suggested the industry would likely become more environmentally minded.

Clia said: “Clia member cruise lines take great care to ensure that each new generation of ships is more Eco-friendly than the previous one and our members are committed to fitting existing ships with the latest technology as part of continued improvements across the industry.

“Environmental sustainability is at the heart of the cruise lines’ economic models and it has been the absolute leader in the development and deployment of environmental technology innovations for decades.

“Clia members have invested more than a billion dollars in technologies to minimise emissions and alternative fuel orders are in place for 87 cruise ships between 2017 and 2026.

“We take our environmental commitment very seriously, it is the right thing to do, and we will continue to focus on improvement in this area as a priority across the sector.”

Carnival Corporation, which owns P&O Cruises, said that cruise ships made up less than 1% of the world’s 50,000 commercial maritime vessels.

“Although a tiny fraction of the global maritime industry, cruise lines are leaders in implementing alternative fuels and emission-reduction technology,” the company said.

Presenter Tazeen Ahmed also highlighted the exhaust fumes emitted by ships at sea are not covered by regulations that limit emissions on land.

She demonstrated how heavy fuel oil that powers ships’ engines is allowed to contain 3,500 times more sulphur than road fuel.

Did you watch the TV show last night? What is your view on the subject? And should there be better regulations in place? Let me know your thoughts.