Despite carrying 36 million passengers a year, cruise ships are currently exempt from fuel taxes and most excise taxes.
Five times bigger that the Titanic, the Icon of the Seas It was launched in early 2024 as the largest cruise ship in the world. This highlights a spiraling trend in the industry: The largest cruise ships have doubled in size since 2000.
If this trajectory continues, ships could grow to a whopping eight times the size of the Titanic by 2050.
If they pollute why don’t they pay?
They would make the 10-deck, 269-meter-long 1912 ship “look like a fishing boat,” according to a new report titled ‘Cruisezillas: How much bigger can cruise ships get?‘ published today by the clean transport NGO Transport & Environment (T&E).
In the report, T&E calls for imposing climatic requirements faster and stricter to cruisesas well as complete and transparent disclosure of its emissions.
“Cruise ships spend considerably more time in ports than other types of ships and cause immediate risks to the health of the human population and nature,” the report explains.
“Taking into account your luxury status and its extensive image washing practicescruise companies should be required to lead shipping decarbonization efforts and deliver on their green promises.”
Cruisezilla 2050: How big could cruise ships get?
He Titanic It had capacity for 2,500 passengers and a 46,300 ton.
Icon of the Seas It leaves the icon behind and exceeds this figure with a capacity for 7,600 passengers and a gross tonnage of 248,700. Distributed in 20 covershas seven poolsa water park and more 40 bars and restaurants spread across eight “neighborhoods”.
By 2050, if cruise ships continue to grow at the pace of the past 20 years, T&E predicts that larger ships could carry 10,500 passengers with 345,000 tons.
More and bigger ships
The number of ships at sea has also increased exponentially in recent decades, multiplying by 20, from 22 ships in 1970 to 521 today. “Out of control”: Has the time come for take drastic measures against cruise ship emissions?
The increase in the size of ships and their number implies greater emissions: despite the pandemic, CO2 emissions Cruises in Europe grew by 17% between 2019 and 2022, while methane emissions skyrocketed by 500%.
Grassroots campaigns have emerged in Europe and elsewhere to stem the tide of cruise ships, and some port cities have introduced their own restrictions.
In 2021, Venice prohibited large cruise ships from anchoring in its historic center, while Palma de Mallorca y Barcelona They have limited the number of cruises allowed daily. Amsterdam also recently announced plans to ban cruise ships from its city center by 2035.
But are these restrictions enough?
“The cruise business is the fastest growing tourism sector and its emissions are rapidly spiraling out of control,” he says. Inesa Ulichinaresponsible for sustainable maritime transport at T&E.
“Cruises are a luxury business and operators must take responsibility for their climate impact. If they want to avoid becoming increasingly unwanted visitors, they must improve their behavior“.
ADVERTISINGWhat is needed to keep polluting cruise ships under control?
T&E points out that cruises are currently exempt from fuel taxesas well as most corporate and consumption taxes.
Given that almost 36 million tourists are expected to take a cruise trip in 2024, adding a tax of €50 for each cruise ticket would mean €1.6 billion globally, and €410 million in Europe alone.
These funds could be used to decarbonize the industryFor example, investing in electronic fuels hydrogen based.
E-fuels have the potential to power 4% of EU shipping by 2030, according to the T&E report.
ADVERTISINGFinancial incentives to accelerate the transition.
The European regulations introduced this year include large ships (over 5,000 GT) that enter the bloc under the Emissions Trading System. This forces companies to buy CO2 emission rights, and heavy fines are imposed if they do not have enough to cover their production. Emission rights are limited in all sectors.
Starting in 2026, it will also apply to methane and nitrous oxide emissions, with the limits gradually being reduced over time.
Penalties for the use of marine fuels pollutants will also increase progressively from 2025 under the program FuelEU Maritime.
Thanks to these measures, T&E estimates that, in 2030, a seven-day cruise that sails with fossil fuels would pay almost 144,000 euros more in fuel costs and penalties than those that mix small amounts of e-methanol made from renewable hydrogen in your fuel mixture.
ADVERTISINGAs rules tighten, this figure could rise to almost €400,000 in 2030 and €1.3 million in 2050 for each week of sailing.
