Fred Olsen bans plastic straws on ocean fleet

Plastic cutlery is also being removed throughout the Fred. Olsen fleet.

Waste-saving initiatives

Fred. Olsen has also been implementing other waste-saving initiatives on board its ocean ships including removal of single-use coffee cups from Bookmark Cafés, replacing plastic laundry bags with linen ones, reducing the consumption of cling film and using ropes to secure items during rough seas rather than plastic.

Thomas Rennesland, hotel operations director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: 'As a cruise line, we make our living out of the sea. We need to do our utmost to conserve this precious environment and make sure that it is safeguarded for marine life and the enjoyment of generations to come.

'There are three key elements to the environmental measures that we are undertaking across our fleet: to reduce and – where possible – eliminate single-use disposable plastics; to reduce the amount of plastics used operationally; and finally, to influence our supply chain in their behaviours,' noted Rennesland.

Removing reliance on single-use disposable plastics

'We have been listening to guest feedback and asking our staff how we can work together to reduce, and wherever possible, remove our reliance upon single-use plastics,' he continued.

'On board Boudicca, for instance, we have been able to reduce the use of cling film by 32%; this is being replicated across our other ships.'

Fred. Olsen is also considering measures that can be undertaken by its river cruise ship, Brabant, to reduce and eliminate single-use plastics on board.

The UK-based cruise line said it is always keen to work with port partners and other suppliers to ensure that its operations and activities complement and bring mutual benefit to the destinations that it visits.