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Lines seek uniformity in regulation, call LNG a bridge solution until new renewable fuels take over

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Flexible, mobile solutions like Hamburg's LNG barge, Hummel, may be preferable to massive on-shore installations (Photo: Becker Marine Systems)
Cruise industry sustainability experts Monika Griefahn of AIDA Cruises and Tom Strang of Carnival Corp. & plc have called for more transparency, uniformity and predictability in environmental regulation.

AIDA's chief sustainability officer said the industry needs regulations that are clear and consistent for everybody.

Carnival's svp maritime affairs, who also chairs CLIA Europe's Environment, Safety & Security Committee, argued it's difficult to achieve a level playing field if contradictory rules are implemented in different regions. Strang cited examples like the Ballast Water Convention, where the US is requiring different standards from the IMO, and the Hong Kong Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, which has the EU implementing different standards ahead of the global convention.

Griefahn and Strang spoke recently on a Seatrade Cruise Med panel in Tenerife that identified air emissions and alternative fuel as the top single issue facing cruise operators in terms of environmental regulations.

'The ball is rolling,' warned Sigurd Some Jenssen, director, exhaust gas cleaning, Wärtsilä Marine Solutions, in predicting a spike in sulfur regulations outside the existing SECA zones. Jenssen highlighted emission reduction efforts already made by the cruise and ferry industries, summarizing the passenger shipping sector as the innovation leader and quite well prepared for whatever might happen on the regulatory front.

Mahinde Abeynaike, ceo, Bomin Linde LNG, called the implementation of the 0.1% sulfur cap implemented in the SECAs at the beginning of last year a 'game changer' for the industry. Other panelists agreed LNG is the alternative fuel of the hour, though only as a bridge solution covering a limited time span until new, renewable fuels take over in passenger shipping in the long term.

Giving insight into the technology of the new AIDAprima, which has a dual-fuel engine to generate power from LNG while the ship is docked in port, Griefahn said AIDA is trying all technologies available on the market, including LNG, in order to prepare for the future.

With regard to cold ironing Griefahn spoke in favor of 'flexible and mobile solutions' rather than massive new on-shore installations. She cited Hamburg's LNG hybrid barge, Hummel, as an example that may be suitable for other ports.

Strang said LNG is available in sufficient quantity yet not always in the places where cruise ships will need it. He urged strengthening ties between ports and cruise lines, and the formation of alliances to address this challenge together.

A side topic touched on by the environmental experts was the Hong Kong Convention on ship recycling, which will require Inventories of hazardous materials to be drafted for all existing vessels.

The Convention, which will enter into force three years after it has been ratified by 15 states representing at least 40% of global tonnage, took a big step forward as Panama—the world's leading flag state—ratified it on Sept. 19.

This means the Convention has been ratified by five of the 15 required countries, representing 20% of the mandated 40% of the world fleet gross tonnage.