A cruise is the most exciting way of experiencing the Earth and its beauty. To ensure that the latter is preserved for a long time to come, the protection of the oceans is of utmost importance to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Because exploring new shores also means assuming responsibility for them.
Mediterranean, Baltic Sea, Indian Ocean, Amazon, Arctic and Antarctica, Great Lakes in the USA and Atlantic – these are just some of the cruising areas the EUROPA, HANSEATIC, BREMEN and COLUMBUS travel throughout the world. In order to protect nature and the environment, all of the ships are equipped with state-of-the-art environmental technology. The bandwidth of technology employed ranges from the seawater desalination systems for water treatment purposes via biological sewage treatment systems for wastewater to modern waste incinerators and waste separation. Environmental protection is transparent – during the popular guided tours of the bridge and the engine room, the passengers are informed about the comprehensive measures to protect the environment and how a floating city on the sea works in the first place.
For several years now, all of the ships of the fleet have been featuring environmentally compatible TBT-free underwater coatings. Beforehand, they furthermore participated in a project by Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Environment aimed at testing biocide-free underwater coatings. With the aim of meeting the latest standards at all times, the entire fleet is not only maintained, but also equipped with state-of-the-art technology during regular shipyard stays.
The fuel and route management pays attention to efficiency and any savings potentials – both in terms of consumption and emissions. In all German and European ports, we exclusively use fuels with a maximum sulphur content of 0.1 percent during lay days. Compared to the standard limit of 1.5 percent generally applicable so far, this is a 93 percent reduction. In the context of the route management, all routes are calculated with an average speed which is significantly lower than the maximum capacity of the ship. This allows for fuel-efficient cruising without maximum speeds, because the last knots raise the consumption by around 30 percent. The innovative Azipod propulsion of the EUROPA also provides an important contribution. Besides technical benefits, it also has an environmental aspect – it always operates at maximum effciency of the system and thus the lowest exhaust emission values.
Anyone who has ever experienced the polar regions of the world at close range is unlikely to forget the experience soon. Between the icebergs and floes, the visitor is more aware of the transience of natural beauty than in the majority of other places. For this reason, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, a founding member of the AECO (Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators) and longtime member of the IAATO (International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators), has been particularly committed to treating the icy nature with respect for several decades. This involves going ashore with a maximum of 100 people, with every group of 20 guests being accompanied by a competent expert, as well as preparatory expert lectures on board. Furthermore and despite major additional costs, the HANSEATIC and BREMEN have been exclusively travelling the Artic and Antarctica with the more low-emission diesel for a number of years.
In order to compensate for the remaining inevitable emissions of a cruise, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is the first cruise operator to cooperate with the non-profit organisation atmosfair since 2011. atmosfair is a non-commercial limited liability company (GmbH) under the patronage of Prof. Dr. Klaus Töpfer and supports select climate protection projects. The compensation concept is quite simple – with a voluntary financial contribution and the additional support of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, every passenger can offset the greenhouse gases resulting from their cruise.
