The Icon of the Seas, the world’s
largest cruise ship, has embarked on its maiden voyage from Miami, Florida, on
January 28, 2024. The ship, owned by Royal Caribbean Group, is a marvel of
engineering and entertainment, boasting 20 decks, 7,600 passengers, and a host
of attractions and amenities. However, the ship also raises environmental
concerns, as it is powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), which can leak
harmful methane into the atmosphere.
The Icon of the Seas was built
over a period of 900 days at a shipyard in Turku, Finland, at a cost of $2
billion. It measures 365 meters (1,197 feet) in length, longer than the height
of the Eiffel Tower. It has six waterslides, seven swimming pools, an ice
skating rink, a theater, and more than 40 restaurants, bars, and lounges.
It also has 50 musicians and
comedians, as well as a 16-piece orchestra, on board to entertain the guests.
The ship’s naming ceremony was held on January 25, 2024, with the help of
soccer star Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates, who placed a football
on a specially built stand to trigger the traditional breaking of a champagne
bottle against the vessel’s bow.
The ship’s inaugural journey is a
seven-day island-hopping tour through the Caribbean, visiting destinations such
as Nassau, Bahamas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; and
Labadee, Haiti. The ship is expected to attract thousands of tourists who are
eager to experience the ultimate cruise vacation. Royal Caribbean Group President
and CEO Jason Liberty said in a statement: “Icon of the Seas is the culmination
of more than 50 years of dreaming, innovating and living our mission – to
deliver the world’s best vacation experiences responsibly. She is the ultimate
multigenerational family vacation, forever changing the status quo in family
travel and fulfilling vacation dreams for all ages on board.”
However, not everyone is thrilled
by the launch of the Icon of the Seas. Environmental groups have expressed
their concerns about the ship’s methane emissions, which could contribute to
global warming. The ship is powered by LNG, which burns more cleanly than
traditional marine fuels such as fuel oil, but there is a risk that some gas
escapes, causing methane to leak into the atmosphere. Methane is a much more
potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, trapping 80 times more heat over 20
years.
Cutting these emissions is seen
as crucial to slowing down climate change. Bryan Comer, director of the Marine
Programme at the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), said:
“It’s a step in the wrong direction. We would estimate that using LNG as a
marine fuel emits over 120% more life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions than
marine gas oil.” The ICCT released a report earlier this week, arguing that
methane emissions from LNG-fuelled ships were higher than current regulations
assumed.
Royal Caribbean claims that the
Icon of the Seas is 24% more energy efficient than required by the
International Maritime Organization for modern ships. The company also plans to
introduce a net-zero ship by 2035, which would use renewable energy sources and
carbon capture technology to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions. However, some
critics say that these measures are not enough, and that the cruise industry
should reduce its overall size and impact on the environment. According to a
study by Transport & Environment, a European NGO, the cruise industry
emitted more than 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2019, equivalent to
the annual emissions of 2.6 million cars.
The Icon of the Seas is the first
of four LNG-powered ships that Royal Caribbean plans to launch in the next few
years. The company hopes that these ships will set new standards for
innovation, sustainability, and customer satisfaction in the cruise industry.
However, the company also faces the challenge of balancing its business goals
with its environmental responsibilities, as well as the potential risks of
operating such large and complex vessels in a changing climate.
I hope you enjoyed reading this
account. If you want to learn more about the world’s largest cruise ship, you
can check out these sources:
- World’s
largest cruise ship ready to set sail from Miami in maiden passenger
voyage
- World’s
largest cruise ship sets sail from Miami
- World’s
largest cruise ship sets sail, sparking methane concerns
- Icon of the Seas:
World’s largest cruise ship sets sail from Miami
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