Sustainable Shipping and Cruise Lines
Friend of the Sea sustainable shipping and cruise line standard aims to improve the environmentally conscious operation of maritime transport and trade
90% of global trade is facilitated by maritime transportation, accounting for more than 11,000 million tons of goods transported by over 90,000 ships, with an annual 3% growth expected for the next decades. Although maritime industry regulations and standards are in place, the industry continues to negatively impact the marine environment.
The entire Marine industry is responsible for 33% of total trade-related emissions worldwide, and accounting for 3.3% of global carbon (C02) emissions. Apart from carbon emissions the industry also contributed to concerning levels of water, noise, and oil pollution. The impacts however can be greatly reduced depending on the type of fuel used, engine and overall efficiency.
Sustainable Cruise Lines
Cruising is becoming an increasingly popular holiday choice worldwide, with a growing passenger capacity rate of around 10% a year. Although overall global cruise ships count for less than 1% of the global maritime community, and they are implementing responsible tourism practices and environmental technologies, industry performance could still be greatly improved.
It is estimated that each day a large cruise ship generates as much as:
- 30,000 gallons of sewage,
- 255,000 gallons of dirty water from shower, sinks, laundries, and dishwashers, as well as hazardous chemicals from photo processing, dry cleaning and industrial cleaning products.
- 7,000 gallons of oily bilge water;
- smokestack and exhaust emissions equivalent to 12,000 cars
It has been reported that each passenger’s carbon footprint at sea is 3 times higher than on land!
Why Sustainable Shipping and Cruise Lines?
Maritime industries are beginning to heed calls by marine conservationist to engage in more environmentally conscious sailing. New guidelines and standards are being developed to define steps required to reduce carbon footprint on the goods and people transported at sea. There have been significant advances in research and development in the environmental sustainability of maritime shipping by implementing new greener technologies. However, It remains difficult to identify the cleanest or most environmentally friendly shipping or cruise line operators as each entity are vastly different.
Friend of the Sea has subsequently developed a new certification standard, with the aim of improving the traceability, awareness, and the promotion of sustainable practices in the maritime industry
The Standard for Sustainable Shipping and Cruise lines
Friend of the Sea criteria for sustainable shipping require:
- pollution prevention by regulating fuel efficiency.
- use of antifouling and waste control;
- social accountability;
- legal compliance.
Friend of the Sea provides customers with a list of cruise line operators and shipping lines who really engage in environmental protection. A third-party certification will guarantee a more conscious choice.
Would you like to receive a quotation for Friend of the Sea audit and royalties to use our logo?
Please, fill out the online Preliminary Information Form (PIF):
- All the information will be kept strictly confidential and implies NO commitment on your company’s part.
- The Friend of the Sea certification is voluntary and NOT mandatory to gain access to markets.
- The application process is NOT discriminatory on size, scale, management, and minimum number of operators.
- Friend of the Sea is a NGO and it strives to make participation in the audits affordable for all companies.
- Please, contact us for more information on Government funding which might be available in your Country for sustainability certifications:info@friendofthesea.org
