World’s largest leisure travel company recognized by industry peers at GreenTech in Shipping Global Forum for longtime commitment to environmental leadership and healthy oceans and communities
MIAMI – Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world’s largest leisure travel company, today announced it has been honored by maritime industry peers with the Greenest Shipowner of the Year Neptune Award, which recognizes a company that has shown excellence in reducing environmental impact in the operation of its fleet in the past year.
The award was presented at February’s GreenTech in Shipping Global Forum in Hamburg, Germany. Winners were chosen by executives from ship owners, ports and marine technology companies who had gathered to share best practices and cutting-edge technologies to enable continued reductions in the environmental impacts of shipping.
“We are grateful and humbled to be recognized for our commitment to sustainability,” said Roger Frizzell, chief communications officer for Carnival Corporation. “From the very beginning, we have made the environment one of our most important priorities, as our very existence is tied to protecting the oceans, seas and communities in which we operate. With more than 120,000 employees, most of whom live and work at sea, our commitment to protecting and maintaining healthy oceans, seas and local communities is not just an operating necessity.”
Added Frizzell: “We have been an early mover in the development and installation of Advanced Air Quality Systems, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and shore power operations, as well as other innovative advancements, and this award helps validate the success of our efforts.”
Carnival Corporation is a recognized environmental leader in developing innovative solutions for sustainability. Its ongoing programs continue to underscore the company’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility, as outlined in its 2020 sustainability goals. In 2018, the company announced it achieved its 25 percent carbon reduction goal three years ahead of schedule, and is on track with its nine other 2020 sustainability targets for reducing its environmental footprint, while enhancing the health, safety and security of its guests and crew members, and ensuring sustainable business practices among its nine brands, business partners and suppliers.
As part of its focus on sustainable operations, Carnival Corporation has installed Advanced Air Quality Systems on more than 70 ships in its fleet, and expects 85 percent of its global fleet to be installed with the technology by 2020, enabling cleaner air emissions from ships that positively impact the environment. The company also leads the industry with the adoption of LNG, the world’s cleanest burning fossil fuel, with a total of 11 next-generation “green” cruise ships able to be powered by LNG in port and at sea, including the world’s first ship of this kind – AIDAnova – which was delivered in December 2018.
In addition, over 40 percent of the company’s fleet has “cold ironing” capabilities, enabling ships to use shoreside electric power where available while in port. The company has also implemented broad initiatives to optimize onboard energy usage and innovative hull designs and coatings to reduce fuel consumption by minimizing frictional drag.
Innovative Solutions to Enhance Environmental Performance
The company was recognized with the Neptune Award for its longtime dedication to sustainability, including pioneering the environmental technology breakthrough of making its Advanced Air Quality Systems highly functional in the small confines of a cruise ship. Advanced Air Quality Systems, commonly referred to as “scrubbers,” have been used for decades on land as a proven and effective way to significantly reduce sulfur oxide (SOx) and particulate matter produced by an engine’s operation.
A new study that includes a third-party analysis by DNV GL, a leading classification society and recognized advisor for the maritime industry, shows that the company’s Advanced Air Quality Systems are a safe and effective means for compliance with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2020 requirements, which include regulations for cleaner air emissions and strict wash-water quality standards.
Advanced Air Quality Systems are a key component of Carnival Corporation’s 2020 sustainability goals, first outlined in 2015 and updated in summer 2018. Coupled with other complementary technologies with ecological advantages, including launching the world’s first-ever cruise ships powered in port or at sea by LNG and promoting the use of shore power, Advanced Air Quality Systems will help the company meet its own aggressive sustainability goals and all applicable regulations for the over 700 ports Carnival Corporation ships visit each year.
The Neptune Awards were presented during the GreenTech in Shipping Global Forum, which provides an opportunity for all stakeholders in the sector to meet and discuss the industry outlook, look for ways to cooperate and find solutions to urgent issues, as well as exchange best practices. Carnival Corporation representatives who spoke at the global maritime forum included Franco Porcellacchia, vice president of Carnival Corporation, and Monika Griefahn, senior advisor of sustainability for Costa Cruises, the Italian brand of Carnival Corporation. In addition to the corporation’s Neptune Award, Carnival Corporation’s Senior Vice President of Maritime Affairs Tom Strang was a finalist for Most Devoted Sustainability Promoter of the Year.
About Carnival Corporation & plc
Carnival Corporation & plc is the world’s largest leisure travel company and among the most profitable and financially strong in the cruise and vacation industries, with a portfolio of nine of the world’s leading cruise lines. With operations in North America, Australia, Europe and Asia, its portfolio features Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O Cruises (Australia), Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK) and Cunard.
Together, the corporation’s cruise lines operate 105 ships with 245,000 lower berths visiting over 700 ports around the world, with 19 new ships scheduled to be delivered through 2025. Carnival Corporation & plc also operates Holland America Princess Alaska Tours, the leading tour company in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon. Traded on both the New York and London Stock Exchanges, Carnival Corporation & plc is the only group in the world to be included in both the S&P 500 and the FTSE 100 indices.
With a long history of innovation and providing guests with extraordinary vacation experiences, Carnival Corporation has received thousands of industry awards – including recognition by the Consumer Technology Association™ as a CES® 2019 Innovation Awards Honoree for OceanMedallion™. A revolutionary wearable device that contains a proprietary blend of communication technologies, OceanMedallion enables the world’s first interactive guest experience platform transforming vacation travel on a large scale into a highly personalized level of customized service. The prestigious CES Innovation Awards honor outstanding design and engineering in consumer technology products.
Additional information can be found on www.carnival.com, www.princess.com, www.hollandamerica.com, www.seabourn.com, www.pocruises.com.au, www.costacruise.com, www.aida.de, www.pocruises.com, and www.cunard.com.