NCL Holdings launched its revamped climate action strategy, with focus on efficiency, innovation and collaboration and targeted GHG intensity reduction of 10 pc by 2026 and 25 pc by 2030 compared to 2019.

In order to meet the company’s ambitious goal of net zero emissions by 2050, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCL Holdings) launched its latest climate action strategy along with short and near-term greenhouse gas (GHG) targets. As part of its global sustainability programme, Sail & Sustain, the company has made a strong commitment to decarbonisation, which is evident through these measures.

“Every aspect of our business from shoreside to shipboard is responsible for doing their part to design, deliver and demonstrate results for decarbonisation and our Board of Directors has reinforced this expectation by establishing shared accountability and tying incentives for our entire management team to this critical effort. We also recently took an important step forward on our pursuit of NetZero by announcing the modification of two of our future Prima Class newbuilds to accommodate the use of green methanol in the future,” says Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer-elect of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

According to the NCL Holdings statement, key components of its new interim GHG reduction targets start with reducing GHG intensity by 10 pc by 2026 and 25 pc by 2030, compared to a 2019 baseline with intensity measured on a per capacity day basis. Interim goals offer a path to support the company’s current goal of reaching NetZero by 2050. This pledge covers all of the company’s greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the emissions from its extensive network of partners and suppliers throughout its value chain, NCL Holdings says.

“We are also activating and mobilising our full network of team members, ports and destinations, suppliers and partners, and guests to act now and join us on this transformative journey, further amplifying the efforts we could achieve on our own,” adds Sommer.

It goes on to say that the company’s revamped climate action strategy is centred around the three pillars of efficiency, innovation and collaboration. NCL Holdings is focused on optimising efficiency for its existing fleet which can have an immediate impact on onboard power consumption and GHG emissions as well as generate fuel savings. This includes both ongoing investments in systems and technologies as well as operational enhancements.

As far as innovations are concerned, NCL Holdings adds, it has long invested in durable solutions and technologies, like green fuels. NCL Holdings has successfully completed tests of biofuel blends on multiple ships since 2022, in which a blend of approximately 30 pc biofuel and 70 pc marine gas oil has been used. Biodiesel to support decarbonisation journey as long-term solutions are tested and scaled while green methanol as a promising solution has already been implemented in the modification of the final two Prima Class ships, expected to be delivered in 2027 and 2028.

“We are encouraged to see the significant progress and momentum across sectors to decarbonise, but fundamental challenges continue to exist for the cruise industry to fully decarbonise by 2050. Rather than waiting for these challenges to dissolve, our strategy is about acting now to implement solutions for efficiency today, innovate for future solutions and collaborate with our stakeholders along the way. ” says Jessica John, Vice President of ESG, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

NCL Holdings statement adds that the pathway to NetZero requires significant collaboration to combat climate change. As such, NCL Holdings is a first mover partner of the Pacific Northwest to Alaska Green Corridor, a collaborative effort between ports, governments and cruise operators in the region, to explore a maritime green corridor aimed at accelerating the deployment of zero GHG emission ships and operations between Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington.