Hapag-Lloyd Cruises marked last Thursday’s World Shipping Day motto for 2022 – “New technologies for greener shipping” – by filling one of its expedition ships with biofuel from sustainable resources.The luxury and expedition cruise operator has, since 2020, dispensed with heavy fuel oil for the entire fleet and has used marine gas oil with a sulfur content of 0.1 percent.On Sunday , expedition ship HANSEATIC inspiration was bunkered with an admixture of cooking oils and marine gas oil; the split being around 30 percent. The certified biofuel is almost free of sulfur oxides and offers a CO2-Reduction of up to 90% compared to fossil fuels. Further admixtures of biofuels are planned for all fleets.Currently, the most effective way to cut emissions is to use less fuel. In doing so, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises follows the principle of “slow steaming” and calculates the timetables with a reduced average speed. “The last 3 knots” are dispensed with, saving more than 30% of consumption and reducing emissions.In addition, the test phase of the shore power device of the new expedition buildings at the Cruise Center Hamburg Altona has been initiated. Initial findings from earlier tests have already led to modifications and structural adjustments to the ships.The test phase also extended to calls by HANSEATIC inspiration and HANSEATIC nature on 30 September, 4 October and again on 7 October.“For us, the use of shore power is a building block for offering climate-neutral cruises in the future,” said Julian Pfitzner, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.“Two years ago we successfully completed the test phase at the Cruise Center Hamburg Altona for the luxury ship EUROPA 2 and received certification from the DNV classification society. Now we are focusing on the certification of the shore power connection for the three expedition ships in Hamburg Altona,” he said.
Additionally, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises pays attention to many small details: all ships have seawater desalination plants for water treatment, comprehensive waste separation devices and sewage treatment plants as well as TBT-free underwater paints. The EUROPA 2, which went into service in 2013, is one of the pioneer ships that were already equipped with SCR catalytic converters during construction.
