50 cruise ships will be built in the next 5 years, and half of them will use Liquefied Natural Gas, currently the cleanest marine fuel.
MADRID – Whilst in 2023 the cruise industry’s forecast is to exceed 2019 figures by 6%, in 2024, a further growth of no less than 20% is expected, thanks to the addition of 16 of the 50 ships to be built in the next 5 years.
The most relevant international professionals of the cruise industry will meet on 14th and 15th November, during the celebration of the thirteenth edition of the International Cruise Summit, the renowned congress that each year brings together the cruise industry at Hotel Meliá Castilla.
For two days, several round tables and presentations will debate different topics of the cruise industry and tourist destinations. The cruise industry will be analysed from the outside following a year of recovery. In addition, the main leaders of the industry will outline the opportunities and challenges for the coming years.
Cruise companies continue to invest in the most advanced technologies to achieve zero net emissions by 2050. Several experiments with sustainable fuels have been carried out and research is being conducted on methanol and hydrogen engines. Half of the 50 ships to be built over the next five years will use Liquefied Natural Gas as a fuel, while the remaining 25 will be fitted with powerful gas filtering systems.
Many of these new ships will also be equipped with shore power so that they can switch off their engines while they are in port. At present, few ports have such a supply of sustainably sourced energy, but there are a large number of projects in the pipeline which will be brought to fruition in the coming years.
Top executives, international cruise line executives, port authorities, travel agents and companies and experts from the industry will be present at one of the most important cruise congresses in the world. The event will feature speakers from the top management of cruise companies such as Alessandro Carollo, Director, Government Relations at Royal Caribbean; Andrea Zito, CEO at Swan Hellenic; Linden Coppel, Vice President, Sustainability & ESG at MSC Cruises; Christopher Prelog, President at Windstar Cruises; Andreas Nüssel, Managing Director, Europe at Silversea Cruises; Matt Lebbern, Sales Manager, Europe & New Markets at Virgin Voyages International; Marie-Caroline Laurent, General Manager, Europe at CLIA; or Sander Groothuis, Vice President Port & Shore Operations of Carnival UK (P&O, CUNARD) among others.
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