How Much CO2 Does a Cruise Ship Emit?

By Alice Nichols

Cruise ships are becoming increasingly popular, but they do come with their own environmental costs. Cruise ships use heavy fuel oil, which is one of the most polluting forms of fuel available. As a result, cruise ships emit large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.

Cruise ships vary widely in size and capacity, so the amount of CO2 they emit can vary significantly from ship to ship. Generally speaking, larger cruise ships emit more CO2 than smaller ones. For instance, a small cruise ship with a capacity of 500 passengers may produce up to 270 tons of CO2 per day, while a large cruise ship with a capacity of 5,000 passengers could produce up to 3,500 tons of CO2 per day.

Most cruise lines have taken steps to reduce the amount of CO2 their ships emit by investing in new technologies such as hybrid engines and advanced air-conditioning systems. These technologies can help reduce fuel consumption and improve efficiency, thus reducing the overall amount of CO2 emissions produced by each ship.

In addition to technological improvements, some cruise lines are also taking other steps to reduce their environmental impact. For example, some cruise lines are encouraging passengers to use reusable water bottles instead of single-use plastic ones and installing solar panels on board their ships in order to generate electricity and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

The amount of CO2 emitted by any given cruise ship can be difficult to estimate due to the variety in size and technology used on board. However, it is clear that cruise ships produce large amounts of CO2 and other greenhouse gases which contribute significantly to global warming and climate change. By investing in new technologies and taking other steps such as encouraging passengers to use reusable water bottles, cruise lines can help reduce their environmental impact and do their part in helping combat climate change.

Conclusion: Cruise ships produce large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) every day due to their heavy fuel oil consumption. The exact amount varies depending on the size and technology used on board each individual ship; however it is clear that larger vessels emit more CO2 than smaller ones. Fortunately several initiatives have been taken by various cruise lines in order to reduce emissions from their vessels including investing in new technologies such as hybrid engines and advanced air conditioning systems as well as encouraging passengers to use reusable water bottles instead of single-use plastic ones.