The Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, embarked on its maiden voyage from Miami, Florida yesterday. However, the ship has raised concerns over its environmental impact and methane emissions. Owned by the Royal Caribbean Group, the Icon of the Seas is a 365-meter-long cruise ship boasting 20 decks and a capacity to accommodate up to 7,600 passengers.
The world’s largest cruise ship, built in Turku, Finland, includes seven swimming pools, six water slides, and over 40 restaurants, bars, and lounges. However, as it embarks on a seven-day island-hopping voyage in the Caribbean, environmentalists are expressing their apprehensions.
Energy-efficient technology
The ship utilizes liquefied natural gas (LNG), known for burning more cleanly than traditional marine fuels. According to Royal Caribbean, the world’s largest cruise ship also sets a new standard for sustainability with the use of energy-efficient technology designed to minimize the ship’s carbon footprint.
Royal Caribbean said that the world’s largest cruise ship is 24 percent more energy-efficient than the standards set by the International Maritime Organization for modern ships. The company also pledged to introduce a net-zero emissions ship by 2035. Despite these assurances, environmental advocates are calling for heightened scrutiny and stricter regulations to ensure the cruise industry’s sustainability.
Methane emission concerns
For their part, environmentalists are warning that LNG-powered ships like the world’s largest cruise ship carry a risk of methane leakage. Despite its cleaner combustion compared to fuel oil, there is concern that escaping gas could contribute to harmful methane emissions, a greenhouse gas significantly more potent than carbon dioxide.
LNG emits around 25 percent less carbon dioxide than conventional marine fuels. However, what it does emit is mostly methane. It is a powerful gas that traps more heat in the atmosphere over time than carbon dioxide. According to a 2020 greenhouse gas study by the International Maritime Organization, the use of LNG as a marine fuel grew 30 percent between 2012 and 2018. This resulted in a 150 percent increase in methane emissions from ships.
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Cruise industry dynamics
The cruise industry, one of the fastest-growing sectors in tourism, contributed $75 billion to the global economy in 2021, according to the Cruise Lines International Association. The industry is attracting a growing number of young travelers but has come under increasing scrutiny for its environmental impact. A 2021 study published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin revealed that despite technical advances, cruising remains a major source of air, water, and land pollution affecting fragile habitats and human health.
As the world’s largest cruise ship embarks on its historic voyage, the environmental concerns surrounding its methane emissions highlight the delicate balance between the allure of extravagant cruises and the imperative to address the environmental impact of these maritime giants. The world watches closely as the cruise industry navigates its course towards sustainability.
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