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Working together: Sustainability in the UK cruise industry

  • Farne Island puffins from Port of Tyne and Berwick-upon-Tweed.
    Farne Island puffins from Port of Tyne and Berwick-upon-Tweed.
  • Cruise ships in Orkney
    Cruise ships in Orkney

Across the globe, the cruise industry is working to improve sustainability, to implement and develop new technology for cleaner, greener ships and to preserve the oceans and environments on which the industry depends.

The latest information on the greening of the global cruise fleet can be found here.

UK ports and service providers are also developing initiatives, harnessing new technology and rolling out improvements that allow them to fulfil customer requirements whilst reducing their carbon footprint and working to preserve the environment.

SUSTAINABILITY IN ACTION
FUTURE PLANS
ABP Southampton
  • Shore power now available at two terminals.
  • Recycling: Nearly 100% of general garbage ships waste being recycled or sent for energy recovery
  • Port Renewable Energy Generation: 7 Solar PV arrays including more than 7,000 solar panels
  • Biosecurity Management: Biofouling management on ships hulls to reduce the risk of invasive non-native species and provide efficiency gains in fuel use
  • Electric Vehicles: Over 50% of the fleet are now electric
  • High Mast Lighting LED Upgrades: upgrades of more than 100 high-mast lighting towers
  • Port Air Quality Monitoring: air quality across the port is 25% better than the UK’s national target levels
  • Port Air Quality Strategy: Plans to accelerate the recent improvements in air quality
  • No Idling Campaign
  • Cycling Infrastructure Upgrades
  • Beach Cleans
  • Cruise Terminal LED Upgrades: LED lighting has been in Ocean Cruise Terminal and in the baggage hall at City Cruise Terminal
  • Rail Upgrades to Improve Air Quality
  • Electric Vehicle Charging Points for Cruise Passengers
Falmouth
  • Winners of the Environmental Growth category at the Cornwall Sustainability Awards.
  • Removal of 11 small craft moorings to promote a Seagrass Recovery Area including a voluntary ‘no anchor zone.’
  • Pilot boat engine efficiency monitoring and evaluation.
  • Marina Seabin installation to help with the removal of plastics from the Oceans.
  • Trialling alternative anti foul coating systems for Harbour Craft.
  • Environment – Falmouth Harbour, Cornwall
Excursions Ltd
  • Participation in Travel Life sustainability programme providing progressive company-wide education and training in sustainability and social responsibility.
  • Electric cars: used for airport transfers and in large cities
  • Low emission coaches: used for all excursions plus a no idling policy
  • Office energy: Orkney office is 100% powered by renewable energy provided by a wind turbine
Liverpool Cruise Terminal
  • Waste recycling
  • Use of electric or LPG vehicles where possible
  • Strict controls on noise and light pollution
Port of Dover
  • Recycling SeaAward: Introduced in 2017 to encourage visiting cruise vessels to follow the correct procedures and maximise their recycling. Recycling of cruise ship waste has increased from 23% to 40%.
Portland Port
  • Air quality survey (Oct 2019): Base line air quality survey undertaken against which we can monitor air quality
  • Office recycling policy (Sept 19): Improved segregation and recycling of office waste including food waste
  • Breakwater cleaning (2018 annually) Annual removal of plastics from a section of the breakwaters. This is planned to become more frequent
Portsmouth International Port
  • Solar panels generating energy to power the port
  • Sea water harvesting for terminal temperature regulation
  • Seawater toilet flushing
Seatrade
  • Quarterly printed magazine – now 3 printed plus one digital edition.
  • All magazine and show catalogues on recyclable paper
  • At end of events, exhibitors can identify any stand furniture to be donated to local charities
  • Charitable partner for all events is Mercy Ships
  • Used recycled carpets for event flooring
Solent Stevedores
  • Electric forklift trucks: 37 trucks creating a fully electric fleet to replace diesel trucks
  • 10 low emission teletruks: New fleet of 10 JCB teletruks using tier V reduced emission engines
  • Removal of single use plastics in welfare facilities and issuing of reusable cups to full-time staff
ABP Southampton
  • Street Lighting LED Upgrades in 2020
  • 100% Electric Vehicle Fleet in 2020
  • Increasing LNG calls: Ocean Cruise terminal upgraded in readiness for P&O Cruises’ Iona which will be the first fully LNG powered cruise ship to home port in the UK
  • Ongoing Implementation of ABP Air Quality Strategy
Excursions Ltd
  • Head office relocation to A1 spec low energy office
Orkney Islands
  • Shore power: Stromness Pier for ferry operation 2020. Will be suitable for smaller cruise ships that can use Stromness. Medium – long term plan for shore power at Hatson Pier.
  • LNG: increasing provision for LNG in medium- long term.
Portland Port
  • Hybrid/electric vehicles: ongoing vehicle replacement with hybrid/electric vehicles as required
Portsmouth International Port
  • Shore power
Seatrade
  • Energy efficient LEDS for event lighting by September 2020
  • Event catalogue to go 100% digital
Solent Stevedores
  • Teletrucks: development of fully electric JCB teletrucks by 2021