News

MedCruise statement to the Transport & Environment report on cruise ship air emissions

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 08 June 2019 08 June 2019

MedCruise, the Association of the Mediterranean Cruise Ports, strongly refutes the conclusions from the report published recently by Transport & Environment (June 2019) as well as the findings of the publication, which are based on an in-house analysis using highly questionable methodology with estimated data on cruise ships emissions. For instance, the figures arrived at in this report do not reconcile with calculations using actual fuel data and emissions from cruise ships, as well as data independently collected and verified by the ports themselves. As such, it is clear that this study lacks the rigor required by scientifically valid research. It is unfortunate to see such irresponsibility from an organization, which clearly has an agenda to create “noise” without legitimate and transparent science to support its claims.

The MedCruise Association, representing more than 130 ports from the Mediterranean Sea, Adriatic Sea, Black Sea, Red Sea and Near Atlantic as well as 31 Associate Members such as tourist boards, municipalities, cruise terminal operators, tour operators and ship agents, is very concerned about environmental issues and sustainability, and cooperates with the European Commission in different forums and workshops composed by industry experts. For instance, MedCruise is a member of the European Sustainability Shipping Forum and the European Ports Forum -including the Sub-group on Sustainable Ports – as well as cooperating with the European Maritime Safety Agency and the Stakeholders Advisory Group on Maritime Security, among others.

The MedCruise Association has its own Working Group on Sustainability to analyse the investments made by our members on LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) and Shore Side Electricity (SSE) facilities, where experts from the Association gather together to provide recommendations based on facts, such as the 100% LNG powered cruise ships already sailing the Western Mediterranean, which means no Sulphur neither PM emissions in cruise ports. Moreover, MedCruise and its members are very committed with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) new regulations on Sulphur emissions, which will enter in force on January 1st, 2020, and the reduction of the total annual greenhouse gases emissions from shipping by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008.

The cruise industry is leading the environmental race among the maritime transport sector, even though representing only the 2% of the emissions of the total shipping industry, and investing a large amount of resources on greener cruise ships, equipped with cutting edge technology and Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (EGCS) to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, Sulphur and particulate matters. In fact, cruise ships meet and more often exceed current emissions requirements through the use of AAQS and new LNG vessels. In addition, the cruise industry has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions rate by 40% by 2030, in line with IMO aspirations and is actively working to develop solutions for further improving its emissions profile.

MedCruise President, Airam Diaz Pastor, highlighted “the great work being carried out by our members in promoting the sustainable growth of cruise activities and working towards a greener industry cannot be called into doubt by non-reviewed reports, plenty of bias and assumptions.”

In conclusion, the Association fully supports and welcomes any initiative and recommendation on sustainability, such as the creation of new ECA zones, SSE tax exemptions and actions towards a zero-emission industry, as long as the data and methodology used to reach the conclusions are accepted by the scientific community. However, MedCruise is concerned about the methodology and results of the report published by Transport & Environment without academic review and based on assumptions instead of facts.

Lindblad Expeditions offsets 100% of emissions

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 08 June 2019 08 June 2019

Lindblad Expeditions has announced that they will become a carbon neutral company beginning in 2019. This announcement continues the company’s legacy in ecotourism, demonstrating their long-standing and growing commitment toward defining travel industry standards for sustainability and environmentally responsible operations. Lindblad’s announcement also supports National Geographic’s ongoing efforts to identify greenhouse gas emissions associated with its travel programs, and decrease that impact by offsetting carbon emissions that cannot be eliminated.

Lindblad Expeditions’ investments will effectively offset 100% of emissions from their ships (eight from the Lindblad-National Geographic fleet and five leased), all land-based operations, employee travel, offices in New York and Seattle, and additional small but measurable emission contributors.

“As a company, recognizing that global climate change is arguably the greatest threat humanity has ever faced, we all need to urgently step up our efforts whether big or small,” said Sven Lindblad, CEO and Founder of Lindblad Expeditions. “Our goal is to reduce and offset our carbon footprint, and to commit to carbon neutrality throughout the many layers of our business. It has become increasingly more apparent that we, human beings, and our planet which sustains us are out of balance. Climate change and its resulting impacts on global biodiversity and human health and livelihoods has provided a clarion call and awakening. The message is clear; we must rebalance and rebalance urgently.”

“We are thrilled with Lindblad’s commitment to be a carbon neutral company,” said Nancy Schumacher, EVP Travel and Tour Operations of National Geographic Partners. “We recognize that travel contributes to the overall human footprint that affects the Earth’s climate, and have been actively working to reduce this impact over the past decade, investing more than $1.5 million in verifiable carbon offset projects. We look forward to working together to spur further climate action.”

Working in partnership with South Pole, a leading developer of international emission reduction projects, Lindblad Expeditions now has a portfolio of six carbon project investments that align with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. These investments focus on renewable energy (solar and wind), reforestation, and community-based projects in six countries, including Mexico, Peru, and Vietnam, countries that Lindblad-National Geographic travelers visit. South Pole requires independent third-party verification and regular monitoring of all projects in their portfolio to ensure they deliver the stated impacts and adhere to the highest internationally recognized standards. Further, South Pole ensures emission reductions are accurately measured and verified to deliver transparent annual public reporting.

Carbon neutrality joins a diverse portfolio of corporate sustainability programs recently expanded under the direction of Amy Berquist, Vice President of Conservation, Education, and Sustainability, at Lindblad Expeditions. “We are always looking for creative and meaningful ways to support the health of the environment and the people and ecosystems reliant on it,” Berquist states. “Committing to carbon neutrality is a natural extension of our core beliefs, especially in the face of increasing threats posed by climate change.”

This announcement is Lindblad Expeditions’ next major step in turning bold commitments into meaningful impacts, through a holistic and robust sustainability program. They successfully eliminated guest-facing single-use plastics fleetwide in 2018 and have operated a sustainable seafood program aboard the fleet for many years. Other related sustainability initiatives include building new ships that reduce emissions while increasing efficiency; mandating supply chain solutions to eliminate plastic; sourcing and serving local, organic produce; making crew uniforms from recycled plastic; and more.

Longstanding leaders in environmental stewardship, Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic have raised more than $17 Million since 1997 from their travelers in the regions they explore together. These voluntary traveler donations currently go toward conservation, education, research, storytelling, and technology projects funded by the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Fund, whose mission is to support the health and viability of our world’s oceans, coastlines, and coastal communities.

CLIA: Cuba travel ban affects nearly 800,000 cruise passengers

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 05 June 2019 05 June 2019

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) issued the following statement on the U.S. Government's new travel restrictions on Cuba: "Today, the United States Government announced the immediate implementation of new regulations prohibiting previously approved cruise line travel to Cuba from the United States. Without warning, CLIA Cruise Line Members are forced to eliminate all Cuba destinations from itineraries effective immediately. This affects nearly 800,000 passenger bookings that are currently scheduled or already underway. Passenger bookings had been made under a general license previously issued by the United States Government that authorized “people to people” travel to Cuba. These travel restrictions effectively make it illegal to cruise to Cuba from the United States.

While this situation is completely beyond our control, we are genuinely sorry for all cruise line guests who were looking forward to their previously booked itineraries to Cuba. “We are disappointed that cruises will no longer be operating to Cuba,” said Adam Goldstein, Chairman of Cruise Lines International Association. “While out of our control, we are genuinely sorry for all cruise line guests who were looking forward to their previously booked itineraries to Cuba.”