Topics & Positions
Cruises
Absolute Reduction of Emissions
An increasing number of people want to take a cruise and discover the world while traveling the oceans. The TUI Group's cruise companies are seizing the opportunities for growth – sustainably and responsibly. By 2030, we want to reduce CO₂e emissions of our fleets by 27.5 per cent compared to 2019, in absolute terms. We will achieve this through the optimization of routes, energy efficiency measures on board, use of shorepower and the transformation of fuels and and state-of-the-art propulsion systems. Incidentally, TUI's cruise companies are the first in the world with emission reduction target validated by the Science Based Targets initiative. Political support is indispensable.
New Impulses in Sustainability
With its cruise brands Mein Schiff, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and Marella Cruises, TUI Group is one of the leading providers in the industry. We consistently focus on innovation in our cruise ships, see the latest addition to the Mein Schiff fleet from TUI Cruises in summer 2024. The Mein Schiff 7...
- … is operated exclusively with low-emission marine diesel instead of heavy fuel oil.
- … has a shore power connection that reduces pollutant emissions to almost zero while in port. And: This already applies to most of our other ships. In the coming years, we will be retrofitting the entire TUI Cruises fleet with shore power connections.
- … was built in such a way that it can run on green methanol in the future. This makes the ship's propulsion system almost CO2-neutral.
Emissions are also reduced by our cruise companies through fuel-saving schedules: our cruise ships sail according to the “slow streaming” principle, which means low speeds and the shortest possible distances between ports. We are also committed to reducing our environmental impact on board the ships: Modern wastewater treatment plants purify the wastewater produced, garbage is reduced or recycled as far as possible, and we use the waste heat from the engines to increase energy efficiency on board.
Creating Local Value with Responsibility
A sustainable cruise strengthens cruise destinations enormously. For example, each guest on a seven-day cruise spends an average of 660 euros in port cities. German guests in particular love excursions, so the average expenditure at TUI Cruises is even higher - museums and cultural institutions, restaurant operators, souvenir stores, local excursion providers, bus operators, cab drivers and local authorities benefit via port fees.
TUI is aware of the challenges at individual hotspots among the cruise destinations. It is crucial that tourism is sustainable and that local people benefit. Local authorities and ports should therefore control and limit ship visits where necessary. TUI expressly supports this. In this way, cruise tourism can make its contribution to local value creation, see CLIA figures from 2023: At a European level, the cruise industry provided value added of around 55 billion euros and secured around 440,000 jobs.
Regulated Working Conditions on Board
When it comes to working conditions on board, it is important to know: Maritime is the only industry with globally binding social standards. The Maritime Labour Convention of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) – drawn up with the participation of trade unions such as ver.di – guarantees a safe workplace on board, appropriate employment and living conditions, and medical care. This ensures social standards and fair competition amongst shipping companies.
Creating Green Port Infrastructure
Cruise lines are making upfront investments, but they need compelling political support. Two key issues are:
- Accelerate shore power supply: Large parts of our fleets are already equipped for shore power. However, only around 20 ports worldwide offer shore power for large cruise ships. The corresponding infrastructure urgently needs to be created. It is also crucial that ports present green electricity concepts.
- Push expansion of alternative fuels: TUI Cruises' new ships could in future be powered by bio-LNG, energy based on renewable electricity or green methanol. Politicians are urgently called upon to provide appropriate incentives to boost the market ramp-up of these alternative fuels.