Global Cruise Leaders Call for Increase in Production, Supply of Sustainable Marine Fuels

As global cruise leaders met in Genoa, Italy, on Wednesday, the industry issued a call to governments to act to increase production of sustainable marine fuels.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the leading voice of the global cruise industry, estimates that 44,000 tonnes of sustainable marine fuels will be needed in Europe by 2025 to be in line with the 2030 EU decarbonization goals.

At its Cruise Week Europe 2024 event in Genoa, CLIA revealed 55 cruise ships are on order representing an investment of 33.9 billion euros for the next five years. According to CLIA, cruise ships today, and those coming online, are among the most advanced and energy-efficient ships in history, as cruise lines continue to innovate to achieve a vision of net zero emissions by 2050.

“While investments in ship technology continue, the availability of sustainable marine fuels at scale is the missing piece in the puzzle,” CLIA said in an announcement.

The association called on governments to help accelerate the transition by setting more ambitious production targets, particularly for synthetic and biofuels.

According to CLIA’s global chair, Jason Liberty, the cruise industry is making “enormous investments” to lay the foundation for a future of low-to-zero carbon fuels.

“Collaboration with our industry’s global leaders and changemakers is critical to ensure that sustainable marine fuels are available, affordable, and scalable. We look forward to strengthening our partnerships with ports, governments, and communities to fully realize the green transition of the maritime sector,” he said.

CLIA is also calling for governments to reinvest the revenues received from maritime as part of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme to fund the necessary infrastructure and support deployment of renewable energy solutions at an accessible price.

The association is embarking on a research study to combine fuel infrastructure, technology, and sailing routes to identify the local investment needed for the industry to decarbonize by 2050.

In cooperation with fuel producers and engine manufacturers, the cruise industry is pursuing a variety of sustainable energy sources. These sources include internationally certified sustainable biofuels, and synthetic e-fuels such as e-methane and e-methanol. Other sources being explored as part of hybrid solutions include electric batteries, bio-LNG, e-LNG, methanol, or hydrogen fuel cells.

CLIA’s Cruise Week Europe 2024 event kicked off in Genoa on Monday and will run until March 14. The event will see many of the world’s leading cruise line CEOs convene with governments and key stakeholders.