Like Skyscrapers, Can Cruise Liners Be Green?

Just landed back in the UK after 10 incredible days cruising the Mediterranean! What an amazing experience! From an architect's perspective, these ships are truly phenomenal spaces.

Can a 'closed system' scenario help protect environments?

It brought back memories of an opportunity I had many years ago to work on the renovation of the QE2 when she went into dry dock. Sadly, that project halted when the purchasing company went into administration, but it's fantastic to see her now thriving as a hotel in Dubai. While our team was part of the design, working on merchant ships like this requires specific RINA (Royal Institution of Naval Architects) qualifications, so naval architects truly lead that charge.

I've always admired the engineering prowess behind cruise ships, though I still believe a skyscraper represents the pinnacle of design and engineering. However, the complexity of a self-contained city at sea is certainly on par.

The shipping industry has always been heavily regulated, and it's exciting to see new cruise ships launching this year with a strong focus on cleaner energy to reduce their carbon impact.

2025 is set to welcome nine new cruise ships to the market. The largest of these, part of the MSC group, boasts a massive 6,762 berths, while Richard Branson's new liner, in comparison, will host 2,770.

These new vessels are increasingly powered by LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas). As one of the cleanest-burning non-electric marine fuels, LNG has reportedly reduced sulphur emissions by up to 99% and nitrogen oxides by as much as 85%. It's clear the industry is prioritising sustainability:

·        Most major cruise lines are removing all single-use plastics.

·        Onboard recycling and composting programs are becoming standard.

·        New builds are significantly more energy-efficient.

Protecting our sea environments is key to a sustainable future.

While cruising can sometimes get a tough rap, the innovation in these new vessels is impressive. We're seeing solar panels, advanced exhaust scrubber systems, and innovative hull designs for better hydrodynamics. Even the kitchens are contributing with cooking oil conversion systems, and for one cruise ship, the biodiesel fuel is being used to run a fleet of vehicles in Barbados. I've also heard of exciting collaborations with marine charities to collect vital ocean health and climate data.

As you can probably tell, I'm a big cruising fan and always keen to highlight the positives. While we might not be able to declare "green cruising" just yet, it's truly encouraging to witness the industry's significant strides towards better environmental credentials.