Environmental pressures on the cruise industry

In recent years, cruising and sustainability have been the two terms for which the cruise industry has been in the spotlight due to its environmental footprint.

Particularly in the Mediterranean Sea, one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, the continuous transit of large tourist ships has raised concerns about pollutant emissions, especially sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and fine particulate matter (PM).

Faced with this reality, a combination of new international regulations and technological modernization of fleets is yielding tangible results. According to recent data, emissions from the cruise sector in the Mediterranean have decreased by 16.6%, marking a turning point in the transition to a more sustainable model.

International and regional regulations: the driving force for change

IMO 2020 and ECA zones

Since 2020, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has limited the sulfur content in marine fuels to 0.5%, encouraging the use of cleaner fuels or alternative technologies such as scrubbers.

In addition, the establishment of Emission Control Areas (ECA) in Europe requires significant reductions in pollutant emissions close to the coast. The Mediterranean will officially be an ECA zone from 2025, but many shipping companies are already adapting in advance.

EU requirements and national policies

• The European Green Deal requires shipping companies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
• Countries such as Spain, France and Italy are tightening its port environmental regulations.
• Some cities such as Barcelona or Palma de Mallorca have imposed limits on the number of cruise ship calls.

Technology in the service of cruises and sustainability

Shipping companies are investing heavily in innovation to comply with these regulations and improve their environmental performance:

LNG-powered ships

The use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) allows a reduction of up to 90% in NOx emissions, 100% in SOx and close to 20% in CO₂. Outstanding examples:

• MSC World Europa
• AIDAnova
• Costa Smeralda

Hybrid propulsion systems and batteries

Some cruise ships are beginning to incorporate electric motors, lithium batteries and energy recovery systems to minimize fuel use in port.

Earthing (OPS)

More and more ports in the Mediterranean offer electrical connection for ships at berth, allowing auxiliary engines to be switched off during the call. This significantly reduces local emissions.

Sustainable ports: allies of the ecological transition

Mediterranean ports are also playing a key role in reducing emissions:

Barcelona

It has started the process to become a 100% electrified port by 2030. It already has OPS connections for ferries and plans to expand to cruise ships.

Valencia and Málaga

They are adapting their infrastructure to receive LNG ships and have installed clean energy refueling stations.

Marsella and Civitavecchia

They have signed agreements with shipping companies to operate cruises with clean technology and reduced stopovers in high season.

Impact in figures: a reduction of 16.6%.

According to the Transport & Environment report and CLIA data, these measures together have achieved a 16.6% reduction in pollutant emissions generated by cruise ships in the Mediterranean over the past three years.

What made this possible?

• Renewal of the fleet for cleaner and more efficient vessels
• Optimization of routes and navigation times
• Reduction in the number of calls at sensitive ports

This figure demonstrates that sustainability in passenger shipping is possible, and that the industry can move towards a more environmentally friendly model without sacrificing profitability.

And the challenges?

Despite progress, challenges remain:

• High initial investment to adapt fleets or install OPS
• Lack of infrastructure in many medium-sized ports
• Need for international coordination among riparian countries

However, with institutional support, collaboration between shipping lines and ports, and public pressure, the road to a low-emission cruise industry is underway.

Conclusion: towards a new paradigm in maritime tourism

The reduction of emissions from cruise ships in the Mediterranean is a reality and a good example of how regulation, technological innovation and sectoral will can generate positive impacts in the short term.

At Interseas Naval Service, we believe in modern maritime logistics, responsible and aligned with environmental challenges, specifically between cruise ships and sustainability. That is why we support our customers in the transition to cleaner, more efficient operations adapted to new international standards..

📩 Do you manage cruise calls or need sustainable solutions for your port operations? Want to learn more about cruises and sustainability? Contact us and find out how Interseas can help you.