Sustainable Cruise Ships: The Industry’s Contribution to a Greener Future

Sustainability and Cruise Ships – Can They Work Together?

Cruise ships are the core business of OceanEvent. We organize conferences, events, celebrations, and incentives at sea worldwide. We are very aware of our responsibility to the environment.

That is why, in cooperation with Fokus Zukunft, we are putting our operational business, our daily activities, and our travel activities to the test: We minimize the emissions we cause wherever possible. Above all, however, we have ships and shipping companies in our portfolio that are researching and implementing more sustainable propulsion systems and processes. There are already a gratifying number of them!

We offset any emissions that we cannot reduce as a charter cruise provider. Based on all these measures, we are proud to call ourselves a ‘climate-neutral company’.

OceanEvent’s Commitment to Sustainability

“I have closely followed the efforts of cruise lines to build more environmentally friendly ships from the start.”

Christian Muehleck
Founder & CEO OceanEvent GmbH

Our Efforts

OceanEvent can influence the emissions of the charter cruises we operate. For example, our navigators develop the routes for each OceanEvent customer themselves, which allows us to determine the cruise speed. And we keep it low. Because it makes a difference whether a ship plows through the sea at full speed at 19 knots or with only one engine at 9 knots.

For participants in maritime events, a leisurely cruise is a chill factor, and for the environment, it's a win.
Eco-friendly Cruise Ships

By 2050, the cruise industry must be carbon neutral. For this reason, cruise lines have been investing billions in innovative propulsion systems, environmentally friendly fuels, emission avoidance, shore power, heat recovery and waste recycling for years.

As Europe's leading cruise event specialist, we also influence these sustainability efforts by selecting the ships and shipping companies offered by OceanEvent. We have the newest and most sustainable cruise ships in our portfolio.

Ask us about them!

Sustainability in Cruising and at OceanEvent

Despite all technical progress, emissions from cruise ships will remain a burden on the environment until the industry has achieved its goal of complete decarbonization by 2050. For Christian Muehleck, this is a reason to support projects that contribute to the United Nations' “Sustainability Development Goals” (SDGs).

We currently hold 49 climate certificates for a Hydropower Project in Myanmar that generates electricity from renewable energies (hydropower). This neutralizes 403,153 tons of CO2e per year, contributing to important UN climate protection goals: Affordable & clean energy (SDG7), decent work & economic growth (SDG8), climate action (SDG13).

CLIMATE-NEUTRAL CRUISE EVENTS – IS IT POSSIBLE?

We are doing everything we can

Since 2018, Fokus Zukunft has calculated OceanEvent’s greenhouse gas emissions biennially. Most emissions are generated onboard cruise ships, from fuel consumption to energy usage and wastewater management. However, other factors like route planning, travel speed, guest transportation, catering, and onboard activities also play significant roles.

We strive to operate as sustainably as possible, and any remaining emissions are offset through climate certificates.

Reducing Our Carbon Footprint

Since the first survey in 2019, OceanEvent has been reducing CO₂ emissions in its operations wherever possible. Over 90 percent of our customer contacts take place virtually, necessary travel is covered by train for distances up to 400 km, we act in an energy-efficient manner and value high-quality, sustainably produced products.

We offset any remaining emissions from our operations through this funding project in Myanmar. Information about international climate protection projects with Fokus Zukunft can be found HERE.

sustainable cruise ships

Eco-friendly Cruise Ships at OceanEvent

Even the largest cruise ships today emit significantly fewer pollutants than they did just five years ago. Particulate emissions have been reduced by 95 percent, nitrogen oxides by 85 percent and greenhouse gases by around 20 percent.

An important intermediate step on the way to climate-neutral ship operations is shore power. A cruise ship spends around 40 percent of its time operating in port. In the past, the diesel engines simply kept running to supply the kitchen, laundry and the entire hotel and entertainment operations. “By using shore power, the engines can be switched off and emissions reduced to almost zero,” says Christian Muehleck. Many of the ships in the OceanEvent portfolio are now equipped for shore power. What is still lagging behind, however, are the ports that have to provide the electricity. Currently, only 36 of approximately 1,200 cruise ports worldwide are able to do this. Three of these are located in Germany.

“The industry is calling on port authorities to also invest in a sustainable shore power infrastructure and to ensure that the electricity comes from green, renewable sources.” In addition to Germany, this is currently happening primarily in the Mediterranean region, where massive investments are planned. Because under the EU's Fit for 55 program, shore power must be deployed in all major ports of the European Union by 2030.

The Perfect Ship for Your Maritime Event

Is it important to you that your cruise ship is as sustainable as possible for your maritime corporate event or private celebration at sea? Ask OceanEvent!

We have the latest generation of cruise ships for your event, plan routes and shore excursions with maximum sustainability in mind, and offer our customers the opportunity to offset the emissions of their charter cruise through climate protection projects via Fokus Zukunft!

CHOOSE YOUR SHIP