The Icon of the Seas, the world’s biggest cruise ship, made its first trip from Miami, Florida. Its emissions of methane caused environmental worries. The Royal Caribbean Group owns the 365-meter-long, 20-deck cruise ship, which has room for up to 7,600 passengers. Liquefied natural gas (LNG), a less harmful fuel than conventional sea fuels, powers the ship. It is leaving for a seven-day trip through the Caribbean. But activists are worried that methane, which is a strong greenhouse gas, could leak out.
The Bahamas-registered cruise ship was constructed in Turku, Finland, for $2 billion. It comes with a lot of great features, like seven swimming pools, six water slides, and more than 40 restaurants, bars, and cafes. Even though LNG is believed to be more effective, there are still worries about how the ship will impact the environment as a whole.
Cruise Ship Environmental Impact: LNG Concerns and Industry Growth
Some people claim that cruise ships that use LNG may release hydrogen into the air, which is a gas that is much more powerful than carbon dioxide at retaining heat in the atmosphere. Bryan Comer, who is in charge of the naval program at the International Council on Clean Transportation, was not sure if LNG should be used as a naval fuel because it could cause greenhouse gas emissions over its entire life.
Recent reports from the ICCT say that cruise ships that use LNG might be releasing more methane than the current rules allow. As methane has a large ability to trap heat, it is a major threat to making global warming worse.
Royal Caribbean says that the Icon of the Seas is more energy efficient than what the International Maritime Organization requires. By 2035, the company wants to have a cruise ship with no net emissions. Even though there are concerns about the environment, the cruise business is still growing quickly. According to the Cruise Lines International Association, it will add $75 billion to the world economy in 2021.
At the ceremony to name the cruise ship, soccer star Lionel Messi, who plays for Inter Miami right now, broke a champagne bottle against the bow of the cruise ship as a typical “good luck” gesture. People are interested in the cruise business, and its environmental impact is still being looked at closely. This event brings these two things together.
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