Carnival-Owned Brand Cuts Emissions with Green Transport

You can receive daily cruise news updates directly to your inbox, so you don't miss a thing! Go ahead and Subscribe here.

In a bid to combat climate change, cruise lines have been making serious efforts to reduce greenhouse and carbon emissions on their ships drastically. However, the backend operations of this industry have often been overlooked in this sustainability drive. 

Aiming to rectify this, Costa Cruises has unveiled a partnership with LC3 Transporti to implement a more sustainable logistical model. This collaboration involves sending provisions and technical supplies via bio-LNG powered trucks to their cruise ship, the Costa Firenze.

A New Chapter in Sustainable Logistics

Costa Cruises has signed an agreement with LC3 Trasporti to utilize bio-LNG powered trucks for transporting onboard supplies to their ships. The Costa Firenze, at 135,500 gross tons and capable of accommodating 5,246 guests, is the first beneficiary of this green initiative.

The partnership will officially kick off on May 19, when Costa Firenze docks for the first time at the port of Kiel, Germany. Costa Firenze‘s onboard necessities, such as food, beverages, and technical supplies, will be transported from Costa Cruises’ warehouses in Genoa, Italy, to Kiel via LC3 Transporti’s bio-LNG powered trucks.

Costa Firenze Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: Toni Arsovski / Shutterstock

This bio-LNG, or liquefied biomethane, is an environmentally-friendly alternative fuel derived from refining waste from the livestock industry.

From Kiel, the cruise ship will embark on weekly voyages until mid-September, offering seven-day cruises to the Norwegian fjords. Costa Firenze will be making a move to a different cruise line in the coming year, as she is set to join Carnival Cruise Line in 2024, sailing from Long Beach.

Marco Diodร , Vice President, Procurement & Supply Chain at Costa Cruises: “Sustainability is a key asset in Costa Cruises’ business model. We have introduced major innovations in our industry, such as the first LNG-powered ships, and we remain committed to research and development of further technologies, with the ambition of achieving a net-zero fleet by 2050.” 

“Our commitment also extends to all cruise-related activities, including the logistics needed to supply our ships. The collaboration with LC3 Trasporti is a concrete step towards the goal of building a fairer and more responsible supply chain, through environmental, social and governance projects shared with suppliers.”

Significant Reduction in CO2 Emissions

The switch to bio-LNG trucks for logistical operations promises a massive reduction in CO2 emissions โ€“ almost 90 percent, compared to a conventional Euro VI diesel vehicle.

Furthermore, particulate emissions are expected to drop by nearly 100 percent, marking a significant step forward in the cruise industry’s sustainability efforts.

Read Also: What Is an LNG-Powered Cruise Ship?

Michele Ambrogi, President of LC3 Trasporti:ย “LC3’s commitment to provide a pioneering and cutting-edge logistics service that aims to minimize environmental impact is a core value for our company, and this agreement further strengthens our position as a market leader thanks to a prestigious partner with whom we share values and ambitions.”

Costa Cruises
Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia / Shutterstock

With this initiative, Costa Cruises demonstrates that becoming environmentally friendlier extends far beyond the cruise ships. It includes every step of the operational process. However, it also highlights a significant problem in the industry, the lack of local sourcing.

The Potential of Local Sourcing in the Cruise Industry

While Costa Cruises’ partnership with LC3 Transporti marks a significant move towards more sustainable logistics, local sourcing is another area ripe for green innovation. If more cruise lines shift their focus to sourcing supplies locally, it could lead to a range of benefits for the entire industry and beyond.

Worth Reading: LNG Cruise Ship – Top Pros and Cons

It is not uncommon for cruise lines to engage in a practice that could be seen as going against the goals the industry has set for 2050. Cruise companies often import European products to the States, only to export them across the Atlantic when they deploy their ships in the Mediterranean. Or, as is the case with Costa, import products from Italy to Germany.

Various factors, including supply chain logistics, brand preferences, and bulk purchasing agreements, drive such practices. However, this transatlantic ping-pong of goods comes at a significant environmental cost.

Local sourcing could drastically reduce the need for long-haul transport of goods and reduce the industry’s carbon footprint. It would also mitigate the need for bio-LNG trucks or similar technologies to transport supplies over large distances.

If you enjoyed the article and would like no fuss daily cruise news to your inbox directly from Cruise Hive, you can Subscribe here.

Voting is now open at the Cruise Hive Awards, including your favorite cruise ships, cruise lines, ship features, private islands and homeports!

Robert McGillivray
Robert McGillivray
Robert has been involved in the cruise industry since January 2007. He joined his first ship, the Seabourn Pride, in Miami Florida, and never looked back. Robert started his cruise career as a bar-waiter and worked his way up to being a corporate trainer for the same luxury 6-star cruise line. After a short break from ships in 2013, Robert has worked as a Hotel Director onboard several different cruise ships worldwide and even in Antarctica, and on the North Pole. As a writer for Cruise Hive Robert stays on top of all current developments and brings you breaking news, facts, and special reports. As an avid traveler and photographer, Robert has visited no less than 101 countries worldwide and stepped on to his 7th continent on his 30th birthday. His photos have been published by news media like Bloomberg and The New York Times, and are used by Celebrity and Azamara Cruise lines for their promotional materials. Robert currently resides in the Philippines on the tropical island of Panglao, with his wife and two daughters. Find out more about us here.

Don't Miss Cruise Hive's Daily Update!

Free expert cruise tips and news from Cruise Hive! We'll send you the latest cruise updates daily to your inbox.

Don't Miss Any Cruise News!

We'll send you the latest cruise updates daily to your inbox.

76 Shares
Copy link