What is the environmental impact of cruise ships?

The effect of cruise ships on the climate is profound. The combination of air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and ocean pollution creates a multifaceted environmental impact. With stricter regulations regarding emissions, the demand for cleaner fuel is increasing. Norway is leading the way when it comes to developing greener marine technologies and building zero-emission cruise ships.

The global cruise market is expected to grow at an annual rate of 11.5 per cent from 2023 to 2030. While the industry is booming, it is also leaving negative effects in its wake.

Cruise ships traditionally rely on emission-producing fossil fuels. A medium-sized vessel produces greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to as many as 12 000 cars. Even the most efficient vessels emit more carbon dioxide per passenger per kilometre than a passenger jet.

Another concerning aspect of cruise pollution is air pollution. Cruise ships emit carbon dioxide (CO₂), sulphur oxide (SOₓ) and nitrogen oxide (NOₓ), which contribute to poor air quality, particularly in port cities. A study by Transport & Energy shows that European cruise ships emitted as many sulphur oxides in 2022 as 1 billion cars.

Cruise ships cause marine pollution through the disposal of waste and ballast water. They generate vast amounts of sewage and grey water, which is often discharged into the ocean, impacting marine ecosystems. Although international regulations are in place to limit the practice, this kind of pollution still occurs.

It's not all doom and gloom, however. According to the  Western Norway Research Institute, Norwegian cruise ships account for nearly 3 per cent of the country’s overall greenhouse gas emissions. The Norwegian parliament has introduced the requirement that ferries and cruise ships in World Heritage fjords must be emission free from 2032. To achieve this goal, Norwegian companies are adopting advanced wastewater treatment systems, cleaner fuels, and other sustainability measures.

A key example of this is Norwegian shipowners who are ordering zero-emission cruise ships loaded with cutting-edge technology. These vessels will use solutions such as electric engines powered by batteries, hydrogen fuel cells and wind-assisted propulsion.

Here are a just a few of the many green maritime solutions and technologies being developed in Norway:

Ulstein, one of Norway’s largest shipbuilders, is developing a power solution called  ULSTEIN ZED, which will allow large cruise ships to run emission-free for a full day. It includes powerful batteries, energy recovery, specialised heating and ventilation, and solar panels. The system will allow ships to visit vulnerable areas, like the Arctic, without negative impacts on local ecosystems.

Coastal cruise operator Havila Voyages operates four hybrid passenger ships powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and batteries. Equipped with some of the largest battery packs installed on passenger ships, the vessels can sail emission-free for up to four hours. The batteries can be charged in port using electricity from Norwegian hydropower, while onboard energy recovery systems further improve efficiency. Havila aims to operate entirely on biogas by 2028 and achieve zero-emission operations by 2030.

Time is of the essence in slowing climate change. Norway’s green maritime solutions and technologies are helping the global cruise industry to take steps toward achieving its objective of zero emssions.