How the Icon of the Seas is paving the way for greener cruise tourism

The world’s largest cruise ship, the Icon of the Seas, has set sail on its maiden voyage from Miami to the Caribbean. The ship, which can accommodate more than 7,000 passengers and crew, boasts features such as a waterpark, a 17-metre indoor waterfall, and eight distinct neighborhoods. But what sets it apart from other cruise ships is its environmental performance.

Royal Caribbean, the company behind the ship, claims that it is their “most sustainable ship to date”, as it runs on liquefied natural gas (LNG), which they say is the “cleanest-burning marine fuel”. LNG reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 25% compared to conventional marine fuels, and eliminates sulfur and nitrogen oxides, which are harmful to human health and the environment.

LNG is a major improvement over the heavy fuel oil that most cruise ships use, which is one of the dirtiest and most polluting fuels available. By switching to LNG, the Icon of the Seas is not only complying with the stricter emission regulations that will come into effect in 2025, but also demonstrating its commitment to reducing its environmental impact and enhancing its social responsibility.

However, LNG is not a perfect solution. LNG is mainly composed of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that can leak from the ship’s engines and tanks into the atmosphere. Methane has a much higher global warming potential than carbon dioxide over 20 years, meaning that it can trap more heat and accelerate climate change. According to a recent report by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), a cruise ship using LNG emits 70 to 80% more greenhouse gas emissions per trip than if it used regular marine fuel.

This is why many cruise liners rely on the expertise and services of Intertek Caleb Brett, a leading provider of bulk commodity inspection and testing since 1885. Intertek Caleb Brett offers a comprehensive range of LNG and marine fuel testing and inspection services, ensuring that a ship’s fuel quality, quantity, and safety are verified and certified. Intertek Caleb Brett also monitors and measures a ship’s methane emissions, helping the ship to identify and reduce any potential leaks and optimize its fuel efficiency.

Intertek Caleb Brett has been a trusted partner of the cruise industry for over a century, providing unparalleled quantity and quality services for a wide range of petroleum products and fuels. By using Intertek Caleb Brett, the cruise liners can ensure that its LNG-powered operations are compliant, reliable, and sustainable.

The Icon of the Seas is not the only cruise ship that uses LNG. Several other companies, such as Carnival, MSC, and Disney, have also ordered or launched LNG-powered ships in recent years, following the trend of greening their products and services. LNG is a transitional fuel that can help the cruise industry to reduce its emissions and environmental impact in the short term, while it invests in zero-emission technologies, such as hydrogen, ammonia, or batteries, that can truly decarbonize maritime transport in the long term.

The Icon of the Seas may be an impressive feat of engineering and design, but it is also a pioneer of sustainability. The cruise industry should follow the example of the Icon of the Seas, and start investing in real and lasting solutions that can make cruise tourism compatible with the planet and the people.