Carnival is the target of environmentalists' ire for using high-sulphur fuel oil on its Arctic cruise schedule.
An online petition — sponsored by Transport & Environment, Stand.earth, Pacific Environment and Friends of the Earth — "call(s) on the cruise giant to stop using one of the world’s cheapest and dirtiest fossil fuels — heavy fuel oil — on ships traveling in fragile Arctic and sub-Arctic waters."
The petition calls for Carnival to switch to low-sulphur diesel and end the use and carriage of heavy fule oil for its Canada, Alaska and Arctic itineraries.
It also wants the cruise giant to reduce carbon pollution through the installation of diesel particulate filters and lower its overall dependence on fossil fuels.
The petition coincides with the arrival of the 1,404-berth MS Rotterdam (built 1997), operated by Carnival subsidiary Holland America, in the Arctic for the start of the cruise season.
The increasing popularity of Arctic cruising means for high-sulphur fuel oil will be burned in the region. In addition to greenhouse gases, critics say high-sulphur fuel oil releases soot which lands on ice and accelerates its melting.
Carnival did not respond to a request for comment by presstime.
The world's largest cruise operator has previously said it plans to have 85 of its vessels outfitted with exhaust gas scrubbers by 2020 in order to meet the pending International Maritime Organisation rules aimed at limiting sulphur emissions.
