Cruise industry to accelerate path to Net Zero

16.07.2024 - 10:53 / traveldailynews.com / Jason Liberty / Theodore Koumelis

Over 70 maritime leaders convened at a Decarbonization Summit hosted by Royal Caribbean and Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center, focusing on technology, fuels, and policies to achieve industry-wide net zero emissions.

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA. – Driven by a collective objective to help further the maritime and cruise industry’s decarbonization goals (Net Zero), more than 70 maritime leaders met earlier this week at a Decarbonization Summit hosted by Royal Caribbean Group in collaboration with the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping.

Cutting across the maritime ecosystem from technology developers and fuel providers to shipbuilders, ship operators and ports, the Summit’s conversations focused on three key areas including technology development, alternative fuel opportunities and policy and regulation.

“Achieving net zero is not something any one company can do alone – it requires collective problem solving, creative thinking, and a willingness to have tough conversations,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. “This week we have put steps in place to catalyze an open dialogue that will foster the thinking necessary to develop an environment where net zero is attainable and sustainable.” 

The Summit concluded with three key advancement areas to help the industry usher in a new era of collaboration to achieve net zero in the next 25 years. They are:

Participants also explored supply and infrastructure that allows for readily accessible and available alternative fuels.

During the Summit, leaders also considered various collaboration models to accelerate the maritime transition to low-carbon alternative fuel. Part of the discussion explored supply and demand alignment along with timing and the geographic location of future fuel demand. Equally as important as identifying alternative low-carbon fuels is having infrastructure that allows for readily accessible and available alternative fuels.

“The shipping industry is in a critically important phase where the pathway to a sustainable future is now being shaped by concrete plans and actions. The cruise industry faces its own needs and opportunities on the road to decarbonization but also holds a lot of valuable insights that can benefit of the rest of the maritime industry,” shared Bo Cerup-Simonsen, CEO, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping. “With this event Royal Caribbean Group demonstrates exemplary first mover leadership by taking responsibility beyond their own agenda, fostering important in-depth discussions, collaboration, knowledge sharing and action across the ecosystem to further strengthen the acceleration towards a decarbonized maritime industry.”

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