Carnival to reduce emissions

With support from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the US Coast Guard and Transport Canada, the company will install a new generation of “scrubber technology” on vessels that sail regularly within the North American Emission Control Area (ECA) over the next three years.

These include vessels from Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Cunard.

“Working together with the EPA, US Coast Guard and Transport Canada, we have developed a breakthrough solution for cleaner air that will set a new course in environmental protection for years to come,” said Arnold Donald, CEO, Carnival Corporation.

The new technology combines the removal of sulphur with the significant reduction of particulate matter and black carbon. Once installed and fully operational, Carnival says the vessels will exceed ECA sulphur standards, which will be 0.1% in 2015.

In addition, it will also help mitigate escalating fuel costs and produces an immediate significant public health benefit, as all ships that will be fitted with the scrubber technology will use either low-sulphur gas oil or show power when in ports in the US and Canada.

Carnival’s newly designed technology combines two established technologies, which have been used successfully in power plants, factories and vehicles to clean the exhaust from high-sulphur fuel.

But, for the first time, this combination is being developed to accommodate restricted spaces on existing ships.

As a next step, Carnival will request permits from flag states to allow for the trial of the technology to proceed.

The company says it plans to expand the installation beyond the initial 32 ships.