Carnival Corp has been investing $75m per annum in improving the energy efficiency of its fleet as part of the cruiseship giant’s decarbonisation efforts, according to a senior company official.
In a UK Chamber of Shipping forum, Tom Strang, Carnival’s senior vice president for maritime affairs, said his company prioritised energy efficiency as it formed part of its corporate sustainability goals.
The Miami-based company’s fleet of LNG-powered vessels, including two in operation and 11 on order, is a flagship project of this investment programme, according to Strang.
“Each new ship class is some 15%-20% more efficient than the previous,” he said.
The LNG-powered fleet is set to change the power mix of Carnival’s operations, which relies on high-sulphur fuel or marine gas oil for 98% of energy requirements for now, he added.
Other examples of Carnival’s energy efficiency projects include turbocharger upgrade, engine performance monitoring, and waste heat recovery.
In total, Strang said Carnival is running 146 different research and development or “technical prototype” projects.
The world’s largest cruiseship operator is also exploring fuel cells, batteries and renewable energy as future fuels, Strang said.
Carnival has achieved its target to reduce its carbon intensity by 25% from the 2005 baseline by 2020 ahead of the schedule, but the company will continue to invest in emission reduction technologies, Strang said.
In June, Carnival sealed a cooperation agreement with green NGO Bellona Foundation on sustainable shipping, with an eventual goal of zero emissions in port and during operations in pristine areas.
This initiative will focus on solutions, regulations and legislation for the use of environmentally friendly vessels.
