The second GreenPort Cruise conference kicked off this week highlighting the latest environmental and sustainability issues facing global cruise terminals.
Onshore power supply versus the use of LNG at cruise terminals is always guaranteed to create a debate and the first session at the conference did exactly that.
Alexandros Chiotopoulos, consultant at DNV GL Maritime Advisory, spoke about the possibility of retrofitting cruise ships to use LNG by lengthening them. In other words, by inserting an LNG ready-made mid-body section to cruisers.
“It’s definitely an option worth investigating, but it’s case by case dependent and depends on your investment strategy,” he said.
On the same topic, Dr Monika Griefahn, chief sustainability officer, AIDA cruises, pointed out that for ferries, which simply traverse between two points, using LNG is simpler. But she said it was more complex with cruise ships which call at multiple ports.
For this reason, she said: “I believe there is a place for shoreside power and it works for smaller vessels. But for cruise ships the long-term future will be in LNG as long as the infrastructure and regulatory aspects can be worked out.”
Another hot topic on the Greenport Cruise conference agenda was the port city interface panel discussion.
Greta Marini, strategic advisor, port city community affairs, AIVP, said that it's important to develop a shared dialogue between ports and cities.
“A good sustainable development is linked to a good relationship between the port and the city,” she said.
She said that this has become even more important as ships have got bigger because they have more of an effect on the port environment which can result in congestion and seasonability if not handled carefully.
Dr Marini added: “A smart port city is an ecosystem with a shared vision and strategy.”
Hosted this year by the Port of Barcelona, the 2014 GreenPort Cruise conference played host to over 100 delegates.
The conference kicks off the three day GreenPort Congress, organised by Mercator Media Ltd, being held from 15 to 17 October at the World Trade Centre, Barcelona.
Look out for a full report on the GreenPort Congress in the Winter 2014 issue of GreenPort magazine....
