cruise ship fuel burn rate

• CruiseMapper
• Ships and Lines

Cruise Ship Engine Power, Propulsion, Fuel

These are some of the most interesting cruise ship technology-related data and facts - engines , power , marine propulsion systems , fuel consumption of cruise ships , and something about pollution (in-article navigation links).

In 2020, IMO (International Maritime Organization) implements its global 0,5% sulfur cap on marine fuels. If not using scrubbers (pollution control devices), owners of older vessels must use as ship fuels either MGO (marine gas oil), ECA Category Fuels (low sulfur MGO), new modified fuels and blends, LNG (liquefied natural gas) or electric/battery power . Each fuel option is based on vessel type and age, routes/itineraries and powerplant. Most newbuild passenger ships are LNG-powered . World's largest seaports plus numerous smaller ports already have installed shoreside power capabilities providing shore-to-ship power supply to berthed vessels. In many ports, shorepower is in addition to LNG bunkering capabilities.

Cruise Ship Engine

Without a source of power, these huge cruise vessels would be nothing more than drifting aimlessly hotels. A large number of older ships use diesel reciprocating engines for generating power for propulsion. Cruise ship engine power is supplied through the transmission to the propeller shafts. These transmissions determine the revolutions of propellers. Modern ships use either diesel-electric engines or gas turbines as a source of power for propulsion, and for ship's systems. Some of the larger ships depend on two power sources - one for electrical power and one for propulsion.

Gas turbine engines (being aero-derivative) generate heat which is transformed from mechanical energy into electricity. To achieve this, compressed air is fired in a combustion chamber. Hot exhaust is made over a turbine that spins to drive mechanically a shaft. The power can be used to spin the generators. The same way works diesel-electric engines, yet they use a direct drive system, not a turbine. The output shafts, to produce electrical power, are connected to generators.

Both engine types need a lot of fuel. Cunard QE2 , for example, consumes daily 380 tons of fuel when traveling at 29 knots speed and carries fuel enough to sail for 12 days. Usually, ships fill up at various seaports and use fueling barges as floating gas stations. Vessels use lower-grade diesel which tends not to burn as purely as diesel-powered road-going vehicles.

All ships rely on propellers/screws to be pushed through the water, providing forward and reverse motion. Airplanes, for example, require tremendous propeller speeds to provide the forward motion, but ship propellers don't need to turn so fast and rely on torque power. Therefore, ships travel slowly and rarely top 30 knots (for more info follow our speed-link above).

Cruise ship engine room

The basic detail about the cruise ship engine room is its location. For stability, the ship's heaviest weights are at its lowest possible deck, and usually, engines are mounted above the keel. Ship's lowest decks are almost entirely full of machinery. An area creating enough power for driving such an enormous vessel through water needs to be really big - very often engine rooms occupy at least three decks. Rather than long halls stretching the length of hulls, machinery is almost always divided into smaller compartments - one for the main engines, another for the heating/air-conditioning system. This compartmentalization is for safety reasons. If a penetration to the hull or fire happens, multiple compartments help contain the damage. The next photo shows the engine room of RCI's Oasis-Class vessels.

Rarely, engines are not placed at the ship's bottom. RMS Queen Mary 2's four main diesel engines are above the keel, with two smaller gas turbines on top-deck (aft of the funnel). It was not unusual for older liners to have 2 engine rooms. Gradually, technology allowed the consolidation of these spaces. However, current maritime legislation requires vessels to have equipment duplication and 2 engine rooms.

In May 2015, Wartsila Corporation and Carnival Corporation partnered to optimize cruise ship engine room operations of all 101 ships across the corporation's 9 brands. The deal was signed by Micky Arison (Carnival's Chairman) and Bjorn Rosengren (Wartsila's President and CEO). The plan included installing Wartsila's latest marine solutions, first tested on several Carnival Cruise Line vessels in pilot projects. The new systems and technologies included engine control and monitoring systems, safety and fuel efficiency equipment.

Wartsila's "Asset Performance Optimization Solution" package allows obtaining optimal performance from Wartsila marine diesel engines, recommends how to deal with potential issues, maximizes ship performance, ensures full-capacity systems operations, increases the predictability of fuel management and maintenance needs. Wartsila's fuel engine package was specifically designed to reduce fuel consumption.

Wartsila Marine technologies aim to optimize ship performance, but also allow to locate deviations from normal parameters of equipment and engines. This allows emerging problems and engine fault sources to be fixed before they occur.

Conventional diesel cruise ship engine

Today's direct-drive diesels feature one main advantage - the option to use a shaft generator, which is a device using the circular motion of the propeller shaft in order to generate the electricity needed for hotel services, like cooking and lighting.

Shaft generators can be used only while the ship is moving with a fairly constant cruising speed. This is what the NCL Epic cruise ship engine looks like:

Diesel-electric cruise ship engine

Almost all new ships feature a diesel-electric propulsion form. On these ships, main engines are not connected to propeller shafts, and instead of it they are directly connected to big generators in order to produce electricity, which is sent in turn to electric motors, that then power and help turn the propellers. The main advantage of the diesel-electric cruise ship engine systems is efficiency as they allow main engines to operate near the most efficient speed, no matter if the ship is moving at 5 or 25 knots.

Losing electrical power is devastating to ships. Main engines and generators require electricity and it's needed to keep them going. Pumps that are driven electrically take in cold ocean water to cool the engines and electrical pumps get fuel from fuel tanks and supply it to the engine. Electrical power is vital for many operational functions - without it, ships come to a halt.

Large equipment (propulsion motor, bow thrusters) requires electricity of high voltage. As for smaller machinery (cabin lights, galley equipment), the electricity goes through the transformer and is thus stepped down into lower voltage. Large cables snake through all the ships to distribute electrical power. They carry power from generators to switchboards, through passageways, public rooms, crew and passenger cabins. Cabling can be a weak point in the distribution system. If the electrical cables aren't truly redundant, even ships that feature two engine rooms suffer power failure.

While ships are docked, generators and main engines produce more power than needed. They are turned off in port, and smaller generators supply "hotel" loads (lights, air-conditioning, galley, etc.). Moving through water takes up the vast majority of the ship's power needs - about 85% of all the diesel-electric powerplant production is consumed by the propulsion system. The above photo is of the Vista-class Carnival cruise ship engine room. The engine type is "MAN 2 times; 14V48/60CR" (common-rail diesel injection system):

Cruise ship Emergency Generators

All ships are supplied with emergency generators to maintain vital electrical power. Backup generators are located higher up and also outside engine room spaces to isolate them from damage or fire.

Big ships require much power, so they might have more than one emergency generator. Despite that, they don't have the capacity of main generators and engines, don't produce electricity enough to move the ship, and can't supply all the power needed in ports, because of constraints in space.

Emergency generators are instead used only for essential navigation systems - crucial communication equipment, critical pumps in the engine room, emergency lighting. Should they also fail, vessels are required to have a battery backup. 24 hours of power are at least provided by battery rooms to the smaller emergency equipment list.

Probably you've heard about Carnival cruise ship accidents related to power failures in 2013. At our Carnival Fun Ship 2.0 upgrades link you can learn how CCL battled with this "unmaintained ships" image and implemented revolutionary new technology initiatives fleetwide - including an additional emergency backup generator on each of their vessels.

Cruise Ship Propulsion

The new cruise ship propulsion systems ABB Azipods XO (below photo) are more fuel-efficient than traditional systems, also providing better maneuverability, maximizing speed, reducing bad emissions, which as a whole optimizes ship's performance and enhances passenger safety.

ABB Azipod propulsion systems have a major impact on the vessel's operating efficiency - reducing energy consumption and bad emissions by up to 20%.

In 2019, ABB signed a deal with Oldendorff Carriers (1921-founded, Germany's largest bulk shipping company with a fleet of ~700 ships) for the supply and installation of Azipod propulsion systems on two newbuild carriers. Both self-unloading dry bulk vessels were China-built (by Chengxi Shipyard Co Ltd / subsidiary of CSSC) and scheduled for deliveries in 2021. Each vessel was fitted with two Azipods (power output 1,9 MW per unit) plus various related electric and digital solutions (powerplant, diesel-electric generators, bow thruster motors, transformers, switchboards, power management system, ABB Ability global ABB real-time monitoring).

Azipod cruise ship propulsion system

Azipod cruise ship propulsion system is situated outside the hull in the aft of the ship. Azipod turns in all directions (360 degrees) by a rudder, providing thrust in any directions, not possible for conventional systems.

See at the first photo at right RMS Queen Mary 2 's propulsion system scheme.

QM2's Azipod is actually an electric propulsion system consisting of the following main components:

• Propulsion motor - used to produce or drive thrust. The propeller's rotating is powered by an electric motor.
• Supply transformer - power produced by generators is 6600 KV, which is stepped down to the necessary voltage by supply transformer and is provided to the motor in the pod.
• Frequency controller - used to change the frequency of supplied power so that the rotating motor speed can be controlled.

Azipod marine ship propulsion is a combination of both steering and propulsion systems. Conventional marine propulsion systems use a two-stroke engine connected to a shaft, that passes through a stern tube and shaft tunnel to connect to the propeller outside the hull in the ship's aft/stern. This system's steering is done by a rudder (in the propeller's aft).

The above photo shows Oasis-class ship propulsion Azipods (2 units) before being mounted onto the hull. The next photo shows the Azipods (both units) mounted on the hull.

The 3rd Oasis-class ship - Harmony of the Seas, is currently the most technologically advanced and energy-efficient cruise vessel ever built. It is equipped with a new-generation exhaust gas cleaning system (multi-stream scrubbers) and also features a hull lubrication system allowing the ship to float on air bubbles (created around the hull) thus reducing drag and increasing fuel efficiency.

However, the steering and propulsion systems in Azipod arrangement, are combined into one part and the system consists of a propeller (driven by an electrical motor) turned by a rudder connected to the azipod system. The motor is inside the sealed pod and connected to the propeller.

The following YouTube video is about ABB Azipods installed on the new Genting Hong Kong vessels (Star Cruises' new ships and on Crystal Cruises' polar-class boats).

These ships incorporate a complete ABB propulsion - Azipods, electric power plant, computer automation, and software. Crystal cruise ships are powered by two "Azipod D" units allowing navigation in polar destinations. Each of the Star Cruises "Global-Class" vessels have three "Azipod XO" thrusters. All ships have installed ABB's "Intelligent Maneuvering Interface" and the "OCTOPUS" software optimizing fuel consumption and energy management. All these ships were constructed by the German shipbuilder MV Werften. Currently, almost 2/3 of all large-sized cruise vessels, icebreaking ships, and high ice-class cargo ships are with Azipod propulsion.

Advantages of Azipod propulsion marine systems

• A lot of space is saved by the Azipod cruise ship propulsion system in the engine room - there is no propeller, engine, shafting or other arrangements. This saved space can be used for storing cargo.
• Great maneuverability - the propeller can turn in all directions and enables crash maneuvering stop distance that is better than the conventional systems.
• Azipod cruise ship propulsion system can be placed below the ship's height and provide more efficiency than conventional systems.
• In case the ships have large breadth, two (or more) azipod systems, independent from one another, can be used to provide subtle maneuvering.
• Side thruster's use is eliminated as pods can be used to provide side thrust.
• Low lube oil and fuel consumption.
• Lower vibrations and noise than conventional systems.
• Because emissions are low, it's environment-friendly.

Disadvantages of the Azipod marine propulsion

• It requires great initial cost.
• Many diesel generators are needed for producing power.
• The power produced by the motor is limited - the maximum available power now is 21 MW.
• Azipod cruise ship propulsion systems can't be installed in heavy cargo ships that need large motors and a lot of power.

Royal Caribbean Quantum-class cruise ships propulsion

In April 2012 ABB made a USD 60-million contract to provide the Azipod propulsion systems for the new Royal Caribbean ships of the Quantum-class (Quantum, Anthem, Ovation) and Quantum Plus-class (Pulse, Passion). The former name of this vessel design was "Project Sunshine". Builder is Meyer Werft (Papenburg, Germany).

ABB also supplies the power generation, distribution systems, bow thrusters, and of course, the 2 x 20,500 kW propulsion Azipod XO units (at the photo at right), transformers and drives.

NCL Epic ship pod-propulsion

When entering service in 2004, the Cunard's QM2 was the biggest in the world at 150,000 GR tonnes. Her designer Stephen Payne showed the advantages of pod-propulsion giving vessels increased maneuverability. The propellers (screws) of the QM2 ship are mounted on the pods which rotate 360 degrees and provide advanced maneuverability. He made the choice to put pods - though relatively new and yet untested for big ships. Royal Caribbean vessels of Oasis, Freedom, and Voyager classes have pod-propulsion as many other big ships, which is opposed to the fixed traditional screws which push in one direction only.

An interesting fact about cruise ship propulsion is that Norwegian Epic doesn't have pods, though slightly bigger than Queen Mary 2 (at 153,000 GR tonnes), because of NCL concerns about the new technology. Some of the lines (including Celebrity and Cunard) have suffered vessel breakdowns due to pod-bearing failures. Lots of voyages had to be canceled, extensive dry-docking periods were required for pod bearings to be replaced, and NCL didn't want to take the risk.

Currently, NCL Norwegian Epic has two rudders with conventional non-Azipod screws. But how does she manage to maneuver if they can push in one direction only? One option is to make them bigger and more effective when maneuvering, another is to add additional mini-pods or install full-sized pods. Only time will tell if any of these will actually ever happen.

Rolls-Royce cruise ship propulsion system "Promas Lite"

In November 2013, the manufacturing giant Rolls-Royce upgraded Hurtigruten's ship MS Richard With its new "Promas Lite" propulsion system (integrated propeller-rudder system). This is an older ship, and Promas Lite was the perfect choice as it is a combined "propeller-rudder" system increasing the efficiency of older passenger vessels with lesser tonnage. The upgrade significantly reduced Hurtigruten's operating costs on this vessel. The improved propeller efficiency was estimated to be between 11-14% at a cruising speed of 15 knots (17 mph / 28kph).

Promas propulsion integrates propeller, hubcap, rudder bulb and the rudder into a single unit which can increase propulsion's efficiency by 3-8% (1-screw vessels) and by 2-6% (2-screw vessels). It also improves maneuverability, reduces fuel consumption and bad emissions. The new modular technology allows efficient and cost-effective custom-made systems to be built up from various existing and standard parts - mooring winches, anchor cable lifters, warping heads.

Hurtigruten was compensated with ~80% of its total investment in Promas Lite marine propulsion upgrades as the Norwegian Government has this NOx fund encouraging shipowners and operators to upgrade their vessels and invest in new marine technologies that reduce NOx emissions. The Promas Lite propulsion future clients, besides passenger ships, are marine vessels like fishing and freighter ships.

After Norwegian Spirit (the first ship in NCL fleet with installed Promas Lite in 2011), in May 2014 the Star Cruises ship SuperStar Virgo became Southeast Asia's first passenger liner with RR's Promas Lite propulsion. Fincantieri used Promas Lite propulsion for all Viking Ocean liners.

Cruise Ship Power

The cruise ship engine power is responsible for driving propellers, and the other possibility is producing electricity that is used subsequently to drive propellers. The engine's effectiveness depends not only on the design but also the ship's shape, weight, and size. Power is measured in horsepower traditionally - one horsepower equals 746 watts. The next photo shows the world's largest passenger ships' engine that powers each of the Royal Caribbean Oasis-class vessels.

Marine steam engines

The cruise industry began in 1844, when ships were propelled by steam engines, performing the driving of propellers by using steam as working fluid. The largest passenger steamship (before hitting an iceberg on April 14, 1912) was the Titanic, powered by both reciprocating engines and turbines, able to generate 50,000 horsepower (37 megawatts).

Marine diesel engines

Usually, ships are powered by four or five generator sets (medium-speed, 500 revolutions per minute), fueled by diesel and creating 8-10 MW energy each. The power density of marine diesel medium-speed engine is 80 kilowatts per cubic meter. Ships that use diesel engines are required to carry exhaust-treatment systems and catalytic-reduction equipment to reduce the environmental impact.

Marine nuclear power engines

The building of the US first and only merchant nuclear-powered ship was commissioned in the 1950s by President Eisenhower. Of total cost $46.9 million, on the fuel core and nuclear reactor was spent more than $28 million. The ship operated only for five years (1965-1970) but due to the high running costs, its service was terminated.

Marine gas turbines

The first company that fitted cruise vessels with gas turbines, was Royal Caribbean. Gas turbines are greener than diesel engines and allow ships to sail with reduced inventory and smaller maintenance crew. Gas turbines drive generators which in turn provide electricity to propeller motors. They recover heat from gas turbines' exhaust, which then is used to produce the electricity needed for onboard services (air conditioning, water heating).

Rolls Royce is the manufacturer of the world's largest GAS marine turbine "Rolls-Royce MT30". The turbine will provide the immense 109 MW of power for the 2 propellers, all the weaponry, radars, command sys, etc. of the new generation UK aircraft carriers of the Queen Elizabeth class. To this class belong HMS Queen Elizabeth (2017-commissioned) and HMS Prince of Wales (2019-commissioned), each of them with a total power consumption of 80 MW.

Gas-turbine cruise ship power system

The first large vessel to use a new gas-turbine cruise ship propulsion system was Celebrity Millennium . This system will be more frequently used in new cruise ship buildings . It's innovative and, besides new activities available, the economy of scale, marketing, represents an important element of ship design. System's advantages include:

• lower vibrations and noise level, better comfort, lower probability of failure;
• lower exploitation costs because of the easier maintenance;
• nocive emissions reduction, which is partially owed to gas oil instead of fuel (-90% oxide of sulfur, -80% oxide of azote).
• considerable gain of weight and volume, especially when with Azipod marine propulsion system (900 tons, 70 cabins added).

Gas turbines at this time are only interesting in the building of high-speed ships (warships, and especially aircraft carriers, or fast passenger vessels - Millennium max speed is 25kn), because of the better diesel output in lower speeds and higher price of gasoil instead of fuel for diesel engines.

Gas turbine cruise ship propulsion systems are able to avoid pre-heating systems needed for fuel in classic installations (risk of fire!), as they use gasoil, Celebrity's Millenium-class and RCI's Radiance-class use such turbine powerplants. The next photo shows Celebrity's Solstice-class ship propulsion (the 4 aft azipods, and the underwater hull shape).

LNG-powered cruise ships

In June 2015, Carnival Corporation announced the company's contract with Fincantieri to build four LNG-powered vessels with the industry's largest passenger capacity. This was part of the order with Meyer Werft and Fincantieri for a total of 9x units to be built in the period 2019-2022.

The four newbuilds became the industry's first LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) powered vessels using LNG in their hybrid engines. The gas is stored in the ship and used to generate all needed power at sea. The engines are not exclusively LNG, but "dual fuel" (capable of burring both liquid marine fuel and natural gas). This design is for saving onboard space (reducing fuel storage space required).

LNG is natural gas, which consists of 90% methane and 10% ethane. When cooled to -160 C, it passes from gas to liquid, and its volume decreases over 600 times, making it very efficient for distribution. Long-distance LNG transportation is via dual-hull gas carriers. Short-distance LNG transportation is via trucks or smaller vessels (also barges) fitted with high-pressure tanks.

Gas fuel eliminates all the bad emissions - soot and sulfur oxides. In April 2016 MSC Cruises announced its contract with STX France for up to four LNG-powered ships with GT over 200,000 tons each. For comparison, the Oasis of the Seas is 225,000 GT tons. The new MSC ships have 5400 passengers capacity at double occupancy each. The first one is scheduled for delivery in 2022. Its power plant will be based on a new prototype engine.

Using LNG to power large cruise ships is a relatively new (2016) concept. Due to LNG tanks' large sizes, this fuel is used usually on smaller passenger shipping vessels ( ferries ) operating on short crossing itineraries. LNG bunkering facilities available in ports are very few. Compared to other fuels (including MGO / marine gas oil), LNG is purer (no unburned residues, fewer greenhouse gases), more efficient, stable and cheaper (reduces fuel costs). LNG technology also advances due to IMO's future maritime emissions regulations, especially in ports and while operating in environmentally sensitive destinations.

In comparison to pipeline gas, LNG is superior in quality - purer, with more methane and other energy content. Its chemical structure also has a stable composition that doesn't generate unburned residues, soot or any particulates. In addition, because the fuel is so clean, on LNG-powered ships maintenance intervals are doubled (over 25,000 hours / ~10140 days), as opposed to the standard MDO-powered 12,500 hours (520 days).

• All the world's major environmental organizations and the marine shipping industry joined for an explicit prohibition on the carriage of non-compliant fuels when the 0,5% sulfur cap takes effect in 2020.
• In January 2018, IMO announced that starting January 1, 2020, the marine fuels' max allowed sulfur content (outside Emission Control Areas) is reduced from the previous 3,5% to 0,5%. Unless marine vessels are using approved equivalent compliance methods, after Jan 2020 there is no reason for ships to use non-compliant diesel fuels.
• IMO's new sulfur cap's goal is to provide substantial health benefits by reducing marine fuels' sulfur content (SOx gases). At the same time, IMO's lowered cap significantly increases ships' operating costs.

The LNG cruise ship concept was first introduced by Wartsila (Finnish manufacturing company) and is based on drive shaft propulsion instead of azipods. The LNG tanks' location is in the upper deck area (right below the funnels). The Rolls Royce concept is based on azipods.

AIDAprima (2016) is one of the world's most technologically advanced cruise vessels. The ship rides on a cushion of air, thus reducing frictions and fuel consumption, The new technology is called MALS ("Mitsubishi Air Lubrication System"), allowing the liner to glide on an air bubbles carpet.

The ship's 4 main engines are dual-fuel (heavy oil and LNG gas oil) thus reducing fuel consumption. The ship has an advanced filtering system that reduces stack emissions (greenhouse gases). The ship's propulsion features 1 pair of stabilizers and 2x ABB-pod drives (new XO-Pod series, power output per unit: is 3 MW). The total power output is 48 MW. AIDAprima is also the world's first-ever "LNG cruise ship" as it uses LNG fuel supply while berthed in ports.

For its LNG-bunkering operations in Florida (at homeports PortMiami and Port Canaveral ), CCL-Carnival partnered with Royal Dutch Shell plc as fuel supplier for the liners Mardi Gras (2021) and Celebration (2022).

AIDA's LNG-powered cruise ships

The AIDAprima ship's first successful test run for LNG supply was in Hamburg Germany on May 7, 2016. While berthed, the ship was successfully provided with LNG at all the itinerary's ports of call (Hamburg, Rotterdam, Le Havre, Southampton, Zeebrugge).

• The company's statistics show that the AIDA ship spends about 40% of its operating time in ports. Compared to using conventional marine diesel (0,1% sulfur content), by using LNG, the vessel's emissions were considerably reduced even further. Sulfur oxides and soot particles were prevented completely (while in port), nitrogen oxide emission was reduced by up to 80%, CO2 emissions were lowered by 20%.
• AIDA ships (produced by Shipyard Papenburg ) are 100% LNG-powered. AIDA invested in research and testing of LNG cruise ship technologies since 2015. In 2013, AIDA collaborated on LNG hybrid barges with Becker Marine Systems. The innovative and flexible solution is used on ships moored in Port Hamburg.
• Since May 30, 2015, AIDAsol is regularly supplied with low-emission LNG power at Hamburg's Hafencity Cruise Terminal.
• AIDA ships use just 3 liters (0,8 US gallons) of fuel on average per person on board for a 100 km (62 ml) trip. This was confirmed by an independent expert study in 2012. Following the implementation of new technologies and economical handling of resources, the company's statistics for 2016 (over 2012) showed reduced energy consumption (9% per person onboard), reduced water consumption (7,2% pp) and reduced CO2 emissions (7,7% pp).

Hurtigruten ships

In April 2018, the Norwegian cruise and ferry company Hurtigruten announced a USD 150 million fleet renovation project. Almost all vessels will be upgraded with new hybrid powerplants that combine LNG-engines and batteries.

For the project was contracted Rolls-Royce Marine, initially for 6 ships plus optional another 3. The program's completion was scheduled before January 1, 2021. The project also includes all vessels to be upgraded with shore power capabilities.

Dual-engine ferries (LNG-MDO)

The next scheme shows the dual-engine powerplant (Wartsila) and propulsion (Azipod) of the cruise ferry Tallink Megastar . This ship is the biggest "floating superstore" on the Baltic Sea, featuring a 2-deck retail shopping complex and the unique self-service option called "Q-shopping". The RoPax vessel uses LNG as prime fuel and MDO (marine diesel oil) as secondary fuel.

The ship is powered by a total of five Wartsila dual-fuel engines - three 12-cylinder (model 12V50DF, combined output 34,2 MW) plus two 6-cylinder (model 6L50DF, combined output 11,4 MW). Ferryboat's total power output is 45,6 MW. Its propulsion system includes two Wartsila fixed-pitch propellers with twin propeller shafts. Navigation systems are also Wartsila-made, including NACOS Platinum (integrated vessel control system).

The power generated by the main engines/powerplant produces electricity that is used from the propulsion motors, as well as all auxiliary systems and hotel functions. This innovative maritime technology allows the engines to be started and stopped depending on the onboard electricity demand, which additionally improves fuel efficiency.

Vessel's hull is ice-strengthened (class 1A). Rudders are from Becker Marine Systems. When compared to traditional marine engines, in gas mode, the ship's engines produce 1/4 less COx, 2/3 less NOx, zero SOx and no soot particles.

The onboard LNG system consists of 2 bunker stations, 2 horizontal LNG storage tanks by Linde (cryogenic, vacuum-insulated, stainless steel, total gas volume 600 m3), double-walled bunkering lines, pipelines (acid-proof stainless steel), special pipe fittings, gas distribution system, steam boilers. All the ship's electrical equipment is certified "explosion-proof". The LNG is stored at temperatures -160 Celsius (-256 Fahrenheit) and under pressure 4-6 bars.

ABB supplied the vessel's power and electric propulsion systems, as well as the Octopus (smart energy management system). While mechanical propulsion is optimized for a single-speed, electric propulsion is based on rotating speed control resulting in energy efficiency at all speeds. ABB's propulsion also improves passenger comfort as the ship runs much more quietly and smoothly. ABB's Octopus marine technology allows real-time monitoring of the vessel's energy (and fuel) consumption. Based on the collected data, the software suggests optimal performance recommendations.

Spain's first LNG-powered cruiseferry was Hypatia de Alejandria (2019) owned by BALEARIA .

Wind-assisted propulsion

On April 12, 2018, the VIKING LINE -owned ferry Viking Grace became the world's first-ever passenger ship equipped with a rotor sail utilizing wind power. This also made it the world's first hybrid vessel that uses both wind power and dual-fuel (diesel-gas) engines.

"Rotor Sail Solution" is an innovative technology developed by the company Norsepower Ltd (Finland) in 5 years. It reduces fuel consumption and also COx emissions up to 900 tons per year (depending on wind conditions).

The cylindrical rotor sail has a height of 24 m (79 ft) and a diameter of 4 m (13 ft). The technology is based on the "Flettner rotor" (patented by Anton Flettner in 1922) and uses the so-called "Magnus effect" - the spinning rotor (rotating cylinder) drags airflow faster around one side. This creates pressure/speed difference that moves it in the direction of the opposite (lower-pressure) side, creating a force at a right angle to the direction of the wind. This wind-assisted propulsion power drives the ship forward. Unlike traditional cloth sails, the rotor needs no furling (stowing), reefing (reducing sail's area) or line-tending. The rotor sail system is automated and shuts down when unfavorable changes in wind force or direction occur.

Added to the dual-fuel engines, the new technology makes Viking Grace one of the world's most environmentally-friendly passenger ships, operating with very low levels of emissions and noise. Norsepower's wind propulsion system was also installed on VIKING LINE's newest vessel (still unnamed) scheduled for delivery in 2020. The China-built ferryboat is equipped with two Norsepower-produced rotor sails, doubling its wind power potential.

Ship's powerplant includes 4x Wartsila engines (model 8L50DF, total power output 30,4 MW). Propulsion is diesel-electric (2x shafts with fixed-pitch propellers) and wind-assisted (with 1x rotor sail). Engines are dual-fuel (MDO-LNG). As gas tanks are larger than marine fuel tanks. they need 6 times more space. To save hull space, LNG tanks are located on an open deck. LNG tanks are two (type C / vacuum insulated), each with capacity 200 m3 and weight 140 tons (LNG weight 85 tons per tank).

MS Viking Grace is also the world's first ship with the energy recycling system "Ocean Marine" (developed by Climeon AB / Stockholm-based company). The system converts the excess heat (generated by engines and exhausts) into clean (emission-free) electricity with an annual capacity of 700,000 kWh. This electricity is primarily used on cabin decks (including for heating, hot water, lighting). The technology uses heat exchangers that evaporate a carrier fluid circulating in a closed system. This gas (at 2-bar pressure) drives a turbine, then a 100 kW generator produces electricity. After that, the gas is cooled (in a vacuum chamber) and liquefied. Cooling is rapid, as the cold fluid is sprayed out. Then Heat exchangers cool the carrier fluid to temperatures around 20 C / 68 F.

Cruise Ship Fuel Consumption

How much fuel do cruise ships use.

Cruise ship fuel consumption depends on the ship's size. For most vessels, the average consumption is 30-50 miles on a fuel gallon. This will be also determined by other factors using fuel. Ships' gas mileage varies depending on the type and size of ship, the number of passengers on board, and other factors. Larger ships need more fuel to move through the water.

RMS Queen Mary uses 6 tons of marine fuel per hour. Celebrity Eclipse gets 56 feet to the gallon. MS Zuiderdam - .0130 miles per gallon (0.34 tons fuel per mile). This may not seem very good mileage at first glance, however, cruise ships are moving at once thousands of people whereas a car is moving a few.

Nearly all contemporary cruise ships are powered by electricity (motors turn propellers). It powers the air conditioning systems, lights and all other appliances aboard the ship. Most vessels produce the electricity they need by using diesel engines. Some use gas turbine engines. Others use a combination of the two. HFO (heavy fuel oil) is used by diesel engines, while MGO (marine gas oil) is used by gas turbine engines. The MGO is similar to the jet airplanes' fuel.

Speed affects cruise ship fuel consumption because to go faster, vessels must increase the electricity flow to motors. Thus more engines are employed, and it, in turn, increases fuel consumption. For example, Queen Mary 2 consumes 237 tons MGO and 261 tons HFO a day when at full speed. After a certain point, the rate of return decreases from adding engines, because if a ship can manage 17 knots by two engines, it doesn't mean that four engines are going to produce 34 knots.

Cruise companies employ new technologies in order to reduce fuel consumption. Ship's hull, for example, can be applied by silicon coating in order to reduce friction as the ship goes through the water. Friction reduction on Celebrity Eclipse is 5%. Another experiment is LED lighting, using less energy and producing less heat (thus is reduced the demand for electricity and air conditioning). Celebrity Solstice-class vessels have solar panels' field over the AquaSpa pool area. This not only provides shade for the pool area but produced by solar panels electricity is used to decrease the electricity demand from the engines.

RMS Queen Mary 2 is equipped with exhaust gas economizers, using waste heat from engines to produce steam. Then steam is used to heat fuel and QM2 hotel accommodations, laundry, galleys. This reduces the energy amount that has to be produced by ship's engines. The Promas Lite system (mentioned above) generates cruise ship fuel savings in the range of 5-15% depending on the operation type and the actual performance of the ship's existing propeller.

How marine ships fuel consumption increases at higher speeds? Next infographic shows the speed-fuel consumption relation on container ships (their sizes are measured in TEU-containers/20 ft equivalent units), which are similar by speeds and even gross tonnage to cruise passenger ships.

Cruise Ship Pollution

Today cruising is one of the most popular vacations, but there are significant environmental downsides. Mega-ships burn the dirtiest fuel in the world, even if they are sitting in port. Asthma, cancer, respiratory illness, heart disease, are the results of burned in ports nasty bunker fuel.

Shore-to-Ship Power Supply

Those who support the cruise industry point out that cruising has never been more popular. However, more ships generate more pollution. A solution is to have docked vessels plug into the port's shore power grid. Most of the world's largest cruise ports have such dockside electrical hookups, reducing bad emissions by up to 95%.

Aka "cold ironing" and "shore-to-ship power", shore power capability allows berthed cruise ships to shut down their diesel engines (main and auxiliary) and plug into city's electrical grid, using locally-produced electricity for all shipboard equipment and services - including cooling, heating, lighting, emergency, etc. The technology greatly reduces exhaust emissions in seaports. Next video animation reviews this technology.

TUI Cruises Ships Environmental Report

TUI published the company's environmental impact report (first of its kind) including environmental objectives and TUI strategy for a 5-years period. TUI said it planned to issue reports every 2 years. According to it, in 2012 TUI reduced by 3.7% per nautical mile its fuel consumption, and expects further 5% reduction, reducing CO2 emission at the same time by 0.5 kg to 0.55 kg per traveler.

Energy efficiencies are the key to reduce fuel consumption, CO2, and other emissions, and contribute to climate protection. Mein Schiff 3, for example, is expected to feature special energy management systems that help to consume 30% less energy than comparable size ships. TUI is focused on reducing recycling and waste, too. In 2012, TUI reduced the waste amount to 10,7 L (per passenger day), which is 27,8% less (over 2011). In 2012, TUI used 54,463 tons of fuel, including 9,732 tons LSFO (low sulfur fuel oil), 40,880 tons HFO (heavy fuel oil) and 3,851 tons MDO (marine diesel oil). Fuel consumption was 0,367 tons per nautical mile.

All new TUI ships are built to the latest standards with environmentally-friendly marine technologies. These vessels, both as design (hull and superstructure) and implemented technologies, are highly energy-efficient. Each consumes 1/3 less energy compared to most cruise liners. The advanced exhaust cleaning system uses a catalytic and scrubber converter. This technology allows sulfur emissions to be reduced by 99%, and NOx emissions - by 75%.

All-electric passenger ships

In May 2019, the US company "Maid of the Mist" ordered ABB two new all-electric vessels for the company's Niagara Falls tours. Both catamarans are 100% emission-free being powered by high-capacity batteries. Each ship is fitted with two battery packs (combined capacity 316 kWh / 563 HP output). The electricity is provided by 2 fully-independent power systems and split evenly between the 2 hulls.

Shoreside battery charging takes just 7 min (per ship). The powerplant is controlled by ABB's PEMS (Power and Energy Management System), which also optimizes the onboard energy use. Ships' batteries are charged using hydropower (water-generated electricity), which as of 2019 accounts for ~7% of the USA's total electricity production. In addition to the shoreside charging connection, ABB supplied the newbuilds with switchboards, motors, integrated control systems and ABB Ability's Marine Remote Diagnostic System (24-hour equipment monitoring and predictive maintenance).

Battery power is used during turnaround navigation in ports when the onboard diesel-electric generators are switched off. For ferry batteries (fabrication, delivery, and installation) is often contracted the Canadian company Corvus Energy (Richmond BC) - one of the world's largest manufacturers and suppliers of energy storage solutions (ESS) for the maritime industry. The company provides ESS to hybrid and all-electric ferries. As of 2019, Corvus Energy delivered its innovative product line "Orca ESS" to 200+ vessel conversion/upgrade projects, totaling 200+ MWh.

At the following tag-link can be found listed all CruiseMapper's news related to propulsion-power accidents .

This cruise vessel technology-related survey is integrated with our articles on passenger ships building and safety , and the statistical ones about registry/flag-states , cost to build , speed , passenger capacity . All ship links redirect to the vessel's "itinerary-schedule-current position" page.

• Port Overview
• Transportation to the Port
• Uber & Lyft to the Port
• Dropping Off at the Port
• Cruise Parking
• Cruise Hotels
• Hotels with Parking Deals
• Uber & Lyft to the Ports
• Things to Do
• Cozumel Taxi Rates
• Free Things to Do
• Restaurants Near the Cruise Port
• Hotels & Resorts With Day Passes
• Closest Beaches to the Cruise Port
• Tips For Visiting
• Shore Excursions
• Cruise Parking Discounts
• Hotels with Shuttles
• Which Airport Should I Use?
• Transportation to the Ports
• Dropping Off at the Ports
• Fort Lauderdale Airport to Miami
• Inexpensive Hotels
• Hotels near the Port
• Hotels With Shuttles
• Budget Hotels
• Carnival Tips
• Drink Packages
• Specialty Restaurants
• Faster to the Fun
• More Articles
• CocoCay Tips
• Norwegian Tips
• Great Stirrup Cay
• Harvest Caye
• How to Get the Best Cruise Deal
• Best Time to Book a Cruise
• Best Websites to Book a Cruise
• Cruises Under $300
• Cruises Under $500
• Spring Break Cruise Deals
• Summer Cruise Deals
• Alaskan Cruise Deals
• 107 Cruise Secrets & Tips
• Tips for First-Time Cruisers
• What to Pack for a Cruise
• What to Pack (Alaska)
• Packing Checklist
• Cruising with Kids
• Passports & Birth Certificates
• Bringing Alcohol
• Cruising with a Disability
• Duty-Free Shopping
• Cruise Travel Insurance
• Things to Do on a Cruise Ship
• What Not to Do on a Ship
• News & Articles

Here’s How Far a Cruise Ship Goes on One Gallon of Fuel

There’s no other way to put it. Cruise ships are big. If you’ve never seen one in port, be prepared to be taken back by the sheer size.

It’s amazing that they can float at all — much less move. Surprisingly, cruise ships can move quickly. In fact, they likely can sail much faster than you realize.

The top speed for a ship will vary depending on the ship itself, but many can reach 25 knots per hour, or nearly 30 miles per hour. Sure, that’s a lot slower than a car. However, considering that ships can weigh more than 140,000 tons, it’s still impressive.

You might think that it takes a lot of fuel to be able to push that much weight nearly 30 miles per hour. According to a fact sheet distributed aboard Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas — a large ship, but by no means the largest in the cruise line’s fleet –, the ship has a top speed of 27.6 miles per hour (24 knots).

At that speed, the ship burns 2,871 gallons of fuel per hour. For comparison, a 20 gallon gas tank found in most passenger vehicles would be only enough to power the ship for just 25 seconds.

Consuming that much fuel at top speed, Mariner of the Seas burns a staggering 104 gallons just to go one mile.

Put another way, on just one gallon of fuel the ship travels 0.0096 miles. That comes out to about 51 feet on a single gallon . That’s about halfway between first and second base on a baseball field.

Now before you get too worried about the poor fuel mileage, keep in mind that more than 5,000 people are moving that distance between passengers and crew. When you think of moving each of those people 51 feet on a single gallon, it’s actually quite impressive.

Popular: 39 Useful Things to Pack (17 You Wouldn't Think Of)

Read next: park & cruise hotels for every port in america, popular: 107 best cruise tips, secrets, tricks, and freebies.

Are there any Pacific cruises to Bora Bora or the Philippines?

LOL as if that’s the most effective way to cause damage with a tiny amount of fissile material. With SMR’s marine nuclear is developing rapidly.

They should make Cruise Ships run on Nuclear Power instead of Fossil Fuels, much like Aircraft Carriers and other Military Ships do…..

And then what will happen when one gets hijacked by terrorists, who decide to ram a major seaport with it and spread radioactive material around a large area?

We’d find that highly unlikely. It would also be the slowest hijacking ever.

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Here’s When New Cruise Ships Are Worth the Higher Fares

8 things definitely worth it on a cruise…and 3 places to save your money, port of miami cruise parking (where to park): prices, profiles, & map, hotels with cruise shuttles for every major port in america, 107 best cruise tips, tricks, secrets, and freebies, 39 useful things to pack for your cruise (including 17 you’d never think of).

• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions

How Much Fuel Does a Cruise Ship Use?

Cruise ships are the biggest and mightiest sea-going vessels available in the shipping industry at present. Unlike the cargo ships, these carry passengers for entertainment and transport across the water bodies. Hence, the common question of how much fuel does a cruise ship use arises often.

The primary requirement of these cruise vessels is passenger safety and engagement. In such conditions, their maintenance stoppages will be minimum and with high safety awareness.

Moreover, the tightening of regulation under Annex VI of MARPOL and IMO guidelines monitor these ships regularly. Any extra emissions can get them in trouble as they tour some of the most sensitive tourist destinations.

The size difference of these sailing giants also decides their fuel utility and efficiency. The biggest cruise ship at 360 meters long consumes almost double the fuel of an average vessel. Hence, fuel quality, grade, and engine efficiency are important for knowing how much fuel does a cruise ship use.

In the article, we discuss the consumption figures of these modern luxury sailing hotels. Moreover, we also consider the changes in the propulsion technology affecting fuel consumption and storage.

Factors Deciding the Fuel Consumption of Cruise Ships

A ship’s fuel consumption depends on several factors varying from its structure to carriage capacity. Meanwhile, cruise liners have only one cargo, with the highest value amongst all, the human life! To approximate an ideal fuel consumption outline, the crew accounts for several changes.

Vessel Route

Cruise vessels mostly dwell around the coastal areas with occasional visits to the deep ocean. A major reason for this is that passengers want to indulge in the onboard and shore enjoyment together. Hence, once the vessel route comes through, the bunker estimations go underway.

This will include the port stays, sailing conditions, and carriage capacity too. If the engine department has information of rough weather, the same is taken into account for surplus bunkers.

Engine Generation and Consumption Characteristics

It becomes important for the crew onboard to know the engine characteristics. For example, a third-generation engine and its performance between eco speed to full load vary considerably. This means every engine will have a unique consumption chart depending on these characteristics.

Makers such as MAN B&W, Sulzer, Mitsubishi, etc. include these curves within their manuals. Since the cruise ships follow similar patterns of sailing without load variation, the calculations are steady.

Sailing Speed

Modern cruise vessels hit speeds of 22 to 24.5 knots during their international voyages regularly. This means their operation in the range of 85% load and above is quite frequent too. Under such conditions, the consumption increases more than 40% of the eco speed performance.

Meanwhile, sailing on the coastal edges mostly uses eco or low-speed movement. This means a balance of speed variation limits the excessive burning of fuel. It also makes sure the vessel complies with the emission regulations within the region.

Load Parameters

The cruise ship draughts have a lesser variation in comparison to the cargo ships available. Hence, the load parameters do not necessarily depend on it but rather the weather conditions. With a relatively higher draught, the propeller performance varies significantly with the changing sea conditions.

This means the load parameter of the cruise ship will rather be a dynamic factor than static. Most owners always provide their ships with surplus bunkers for safe navigation under such conditions.

Ship Size and Construction

The size and construction parameters of the ship are static factors for its lifetime. These considerations are always present in the accounting of the engine performance too.

It means that a steady correction factor is available for the consumption chart concerning these points. Therefore, correcting the bunker figures with these coefficients will give the correct bunker values.

Propulsion Types and their Fuels for Cruise Ships

After considering the design and performance factors, the nature of propulsion is the next big step. The changing propulsion design and source decide how much fuel does a cruise ship use.

Conventional Diesel Propulsion

After the arrival of 0.5%, sulfur content regulation under MARPOL, diesel engines faces significant changes. The big reason for this change is the change in specific gravity of the fuel under usage in the engine.

Consumption of Fuel (Metric Tons) = Consumption of Fuel (meter cube) X Specific Gravity of the fuel

The blended oils and the VLSFO fuel have significantly less density, making its volume go higher. Hence, the bunkering team takes consideration of the same while fueling estimations.

The traditional cruise ships rely heavily on diesel (less than 0.1% sulfur) for their propulsion. The power system on board, including the generators and the boilers, also operate on this fuel.

Electric Propulsion

In the electric propulsion systems, the main engine does not utilize any driving fuel. This lowers the consumption significantly in comparison to the standard diesel propulsion. The big sets of alternators produce the power that is useful to drive heavyweight electric motors.

Most electric propulsion cruise ships have a twin-screw or triple-screw propeller design . Hence, a reduction in load uses the propeller ability accordingly.

Shaft generators are also useful in lowering the consumption with the production of electrical power. This removes the auxiliary machinery out of the picture while sailing, reducing the fuel consumption.

LNG Engines

To eliminate the demerits of diesel fuel, modern cruise ships are using LNG propulsion. The storage of LNG and its usage parameters differ from that of any other available fuels. Its higher calorific value also has a great effect on the fuel efficiency of the engines.

However, the LNG compatible ships have a trademark LNG engine onboard. Cruises with standard engines can’t burn this fuel for propulsion power. In addition, the refrigeration system and inert gas regulation change considerably with LNG as a bunker.

Consumption Figures for Cruise Ships

After considering all these factors, it is easier to understand how much fuel a cruise ship uses. While the individual ships differ on their size and design, generic figures will help you out.

Large Size Cruise Vessels

With all the above considerations, cruise ships over 300 meters in size consume 200+ MT of fuel. The figures at 85% and above load go as high as 235 to 250 MT of fuel per day. It includes the power generation system for the generators available onboard. The boilers firing for steam generation also use the same grade of fuel. However, 80% of the fuel and more goes mainly into the propulsion of the ship.

The fuel consumption for such ships reduced to 150MT when operating in the eco speed range. Moreover, it goes down further when the vessel is manoeuvring near the visiting ports.

On average, these vessels go from 7.5 MT to 20 MT during the port stays. The significant difference also includes the passenger behaviour of visiting the shores, resulting in lower power usage.

Moderate Size Cruise Vessels

For cruises varying between 150 to 250 meters, the fuel usage goes down fast. This takes into account their short voyages as well as shorter port stays. These typical sizes range between 140 to 180 MT of their 85% and above rated loads of fuel consumption.

Hence, these vessels can give you speeds of 20 knots and more with such consumption. Meanwhile, like their larger sisters, the medium-size cruises also have manoeuvring requirements. Under such conditions, the fuel usage is lesser as well.

The consumptions drop to an average of 120 to 135 MT per day for loads between 60 to 85%. Moreover, the figure also goes below 100 MT if the vessel has a near-port drifting schedule.

Smaller Passenger Vessels

The declining trend continues for the passenger capacity and the size of cruises. It reflects in the fact that smaller passenger carriers typically use 100 to 120 MT of fuel.

The figures do not ascertain a consumption guarantee but reflect the observation trends. These trends include the calculation of Specific Fuel Oil Consumption for Power requirements. The highest consumptions go in the maintenance of 5- and 7-star facilities onboard for the passengers.

Specific Consumption for Energy Generation

The specific consumption of fuel for power generation at the European cruise terminals is available. It shows the fuel consumption per hour and the KW requirement for the port operations. These figures vary significantly at sea where all entertainment sources are driven by shipboard power.

Comparisons With Cargo Ships

Cruise ships consume a lot more fuel in comparison to the average cargo vessel. However, this stands as an exception to the large container ships that also have higher consumption limits. Therefore, this needs one to understand how much fuel a cruise ship uses and why it is relatively high.

Nature of Profit

Cruise Ships rely on passenger pleasure for their profit and turnover. Hence, the power requirements onboard ships are extremely high and diverse in usage. This needs multiple auxiliary engines and power systems for the upkeep.

The consumptions are even higher than a standard 5-star hotel on land. Hence, the power generation fuel requirements onboard cruises are almost 10 times a standard bulk carrier. This also includes auxiliary services like steam generation and boiler operations.

A traditional tanker or bulk carrier has long-distance voyages with steady speed. These values range between 12 to 14 knots, with delivery dates and design considerations being important.

The same does not stand true for cruises and container ships, where speed is of paramount importance. These beasts move as fast as 24 to 26 knots at a given time. With such high speed, the specific fuel oil consumption goes way over the bar.

It also means a large amount of energy is important to maintain these speed and power requirements. Hence, the fuel consumption almost quadruples itself than a standard bulk vessel.

Fuel Storage on Cruise Ships

Cruise Ships rely heavily on their external appearance to attract more people towards them. This restricts the fuel storage options for the crew on board the ship and its monitoring too. These factors also account for the safety of the passengers under operating conditions.

Bottom Tanks

The cruise ships have a bottom-heavy design when it comes to bulk fuel storage. However, the tanks are not cumulative but distributive across the length. This accounts for the dynamic stability and also uses less space for higher passenger capacity.

Remote Monitoring

Monitoring of fuel levels across all tanks is important for these ships for regular updates. In addition, the hectic nature of work and safety aspects need mandatory remote gauges on each tank. All these gauges direct back the readings to the control room for the engine crew monitoring ability.

Settling and Service Tanks

Very rare do cruise ships rely on the fuel of lower quality for power generation. This means the purpose of the settling tank is to mostly separate water (if any) from the standard diesel fuel. The general bunkers for cruise vessels are high-quality and expensive to adhere to the coastal regulations.

The service tanks provide a direct inlet to the propulsion engine or generator engine. The supply system has fine filters, temperature regulating elements, and other fine instruments.

Bunkering Safety

Since bunkering mostly proceeds before the voyage or during port visits, safety remains important. Moreover, the nature of cruise ships makes them even more aware of the possible hazards. The LNG bunker uses the standard coupling at the selective terminals available globally.

Cruise Ship Fuel Usage

With such changing fuel consumption patterns, cruise ships use a high share of fuel in shipping. The changing regulations are also dictating the adaptability of these ships to use electric propulsion. Modern vessels also use dual propulsion, using both electric and fuel resources.

However, the changing market is shifting fast towards the LNG sources for propulsion. Therefore, the vast spread of terminals for LNG refuelling will considerably reduce these figures for the cruise liners.

The use of LNG will drastically change the question of how much fuel does a cruise ship use. It reduces the specific consumption figures for power generation at sea from 0.30 to 0.15 kg/kWh. Hence, the evolving fuel option produces a cleaner and cost-efficient alternative to the cruise industry.

You might also like to read:

• How Are Cruise Ships Powered?
• Titanic vs Modern Cruise Ship: How Ships Have Evolved 
• How Do Cruise Ships Get Fresh Water?
• Engineering Department Onboard Cruise Ships: A Detailed Guide
• Video: Why Are Cruise Ships White?

Disclaimer : The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. While we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website.

Do you have info to share with us ? Suggest a correction

Related Articles

The National Maritime Centre: Providing Quality with Utility

Subsea Drilling: The What, Why and How

The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) Exams and What they Mean to an Average Shippy

About Author

Saurabh Sinha is an active marine engineer, sailing with one of the leading shipping companies across the globe. A keen interest in exploring beautiful destinations across the globe and immortalising them in words motivates him for professional writing ventures. He values connecting with the readers and sharing his personal experiences.

Read More Articles By This Author >

Daily Maritime News, Straight To Your Inbox

Sign Up To Get Daily Newsletters

Join over 60k+ people who read our daily newsletters

By subscribing, you agree to our  Privacy Policy  and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.

BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT

Leave a reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to Marine Insight Daily Newsletter

" * " indicates required fields

Marine Engineering

Marine Engine Air Compressor Marine Boiler Oily Water Separator Marine Electrical Ship Generator Ship Stabilizer

Nautical Science

Mooring Bridge Watchkeeping Ship Manoeuvring Nautical Charts  Anchoring Nautical Equipment Shipboard Guidelines

Explore 

Free Maritime eBooks Premium Maritime eBooks Marine Safety Financial Planning Marine Careers Maritime Law Ship Dry Dock

Shipping News Maritime Reports Videos Maritime Piracy Offshore Safety Of Life At Sea (SOLAS) MARPOL

WAIT! Did You Download 13 FREE Maritime eBooks?

Sign-up and download instantly!

We respect your privacy and take protecting it very seriously. No spam!

WAIT! Did You Download 12 FREE Maritime eBooks?

Cruise FAQs

How much fuel does a cruise ship use per mile.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

• Cruise companies are transitioning to sustainable practices and exploring green technology and alternative fuels.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has temporarily reduced fuel consumption and emissions in the cruise industry.
• Optimizing fuel consumption involves strategies such as reducing fuel usage, optimizing ship speed and route planning, and considering weather conditions and currents.
• The cruise industry is exploring the use of alternative fuels like liquefied natural gas and biofuels, and investing in technological advancements in propulsion systems.

The Environmental Impact of Cruise Ships

Factors Affecting Fuel Consumption

How cruise ships are powered.

Traditional Fuels vs. Alternative Energy Sources

The role of lng in reducing emissions, average fuel consumption per mile, strategies to reduce fuel consumption, the future of sustainable cruising, the impact of covid-19 on cruise ship fuel consumption, temporary reductions in emissions, long-term effects on industry practices, public perception and consumer demand, the role of government and international organizations, conclusion: balancing the pleasure of cruising with environmental responsibility, frequently asked questions, how does the size of a cruise ship affect its fuel consumption per mile, are there any regulations in place to limit the fuel consumption of cruise ships, what are the most common alternative fuels used by cruise ships to reduce their environmental impact, how do weather conditions, such as wind speed and sea currents, affect a cruise ship’s fuel consumption, are there any technological advancements being made to improve the fuel efficiency of cruise ships in the future.

Meet Asra, a talented and adventurous writer who infuses her passion for exploration into every word she writes. Asra’s love for storytelling and her insatiable curiosity about the world make her an invaluable asset to the Voyager Info team.

From a young age, Asra was drawn to the power of words and their ability to transport readers to far-off lands and magical realms. Her fascination with travel and cultures from around the globe fueled her desire to become a travel writer, and she set out on a journey to turn her dreams into reality.

What Is A Fish Extender Disney Cruise

How Pregnant Can You Be On A Cruise

Meet Asra, a talented and adventurous writer who infuses her passion for exploration into every word she writes. Asra’s love for storytelling and her insatiable curiosity about the world make her an invaluable asset to the Voyager Info team. From a young age, Asra was drawn to the power of words and their ability to transport readers to far-off lands and magical realms. Her fascination with travel and cultures from around the globe fueled her desire to become a travel writer, and she set out on a journey to turn her dreams into reality.

You may like

What culinary delights await on regent's new seven seas explorer?.

Lavish your taste buds with unparalleled culinary experiences on Regent's Seven Seas Explorer, where a hidden gem awaits to tantalize your senses.

• Indulge in gourmet French cuisine at Chartreuse with classic dishes and impeccable service.
• Experience sushi and seafood delights at Pacific Rim with standout sushi and creative offerings.
• Enjoy diverse flavors at Compass Rose and Prime 7, offering whole Maine lobster and USDA prime steaks.
• Satisfy cravings with indulgent desserts like Chocolate Soufflé and Tiramisu on Seven Seas Explorer.

Dining Options on Seven Seas Explorer

Gourmet French Cuisine Experience

• Gourmet Delights : Indulge in a menu filled with classic French dishes prepared with a modern touch.
• Luxurious Atmosphere : Immerse yourself in a Parisian oasis with impeccable service and lavish surroundings.
• Exquisite Presentation : Each plate is a work of art, showcasing the chef's dedication to culinary perfection.
• Sophisticated Experience : From the first bite to the last sip, Chartreuse offers a refined dining experience that's truly unforgettable.

Sushi and Seafood Delights

Indulgent Desserts to Satisfy Cravings

• Decadent Chocolate Soufflé : Indulge in the rich and velvety chocolate soufflé served with a luscious warm chocolate sauce. The perfect balance of light and decadent flavors will leave you craving for more.
• Classic Crème Brûlée : Delight in the creamy texture of the crème brûlée, topped with a perfectly caramelized sugar crust. The contrast between the crunchy sugar and smooth custard makes every bite a luxurious experience.
• Rich New York Cheesecake : Treat yourself to a slice of New York cheesecake, featuring a creamy and dense texture complemented by the sweetness of fresh berries on top. It's a timeless dessert that exudes elegance.
• Traditional Tiramisu : Savor the layers of espresso-soaked ladyfingers and luscious mascarpone cheese in this classic tiramisu. The perfect balance of coffee, cream, and sweetness makes it a heavenly finale to any meal.

Diverse Flavors for Every Palate

What Is Promised to the Guests of Regent Seven Seas Cruises on Every Voyage?

What does guaranteed mean on regent seven seas cruises?, what is regent seven seas cruises known for?, are drinks included on seven seas explorer?.

Claire, a creative soul with an unquenchable thirst for storytelling, is an integral part of the Voyager Info team. As a dedicated writer, she weaves captivating narratives that transport readers to enchanting cruise destinations and beyond.

Claire’s love affair with writing began at an early age when she discovered the magic of words and their ability to craft worlds and emotions. Her innate curiosity led her to explore various literary genres, but it was travel writing that truly captured her heart. Drawing inspiration from her own globetrotting adventures and encounters with diverse cultures, Claire embarked on a journey to become a travel writer par excellence.

Discover Quito's Rich Heritage and Experiences: A How-to Guide

Mysterious and alluring, Quito's heritage beckons exploration – uncover the secrets that make this city a cultural gem.

• Explore Quito's cultural heritage through indigenous art and modern expressions.
• Indulge in Ecuadorian gastronomy blending traditional flavors with cultural influences.
• Enrich your visit with guided tours revealing Quito's diverse history and treasures.
• Immerse yourself in Quito's historic landmarks for a journey through vibrant stories and architecture.

Exploring Quito's Cultural Heritage

Indulging in Gastronomic Delights

Guided Museum Tours

Discovering Quito's Historic Landmarks

Immersive Heritage Experiences

Are There Any Local Superstitions or Folklore That Are Unique to Quito?

What are some lesser-known traditional dishes or drinks that visitors should try in quito?, can visitors participate in any hands-on cultural activities or workshops during their stay in quito?, are there any hidden gems or off-the-beaten-path historic landmarks in quito worth exploring?, how can visitors support local artisans and craftsmen while experiencing quito's cultural heritage?, cruising capri: a guide to the island's delights.

A voyage through the enchanting waters of Capri offers a tantalizing blend of history, beauty, and adventure – but what lies beneath the surface will leave you spellbound.

• Capri offers a mix of luxury, history, and natural beauty.
• Indulge in local cuisine with Italian and Mediterranean flavors.
• Explore charming villages, scenic landmarks, and stunning caves.
• Engage in thrilling adventures like snorkeling and boat trips.

Island Overview and History

Scenic Landmarks and Attractions

Culinary Delights and Local Cuisine

Charming Villages and Coastal Towns

Leisure Activities and Adventures

Is Capri Too Touristy?

Is private boat in capri worth it?, how long does it take to see the blue grotto capri?, what day is best to go to capri?.

Affiliate disclaimer

As an affiliate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. We get commissions for purchases made through links on this website from Amazon and other third parties.

5 Must-Visit Temples on a Japan Cruise

Regina Charboneau: Culinary Ambassador of American Queen Voyages

What Is The Weather Like On A Transatlantic Cruise In April

What Is The Average Age Of Passengers By Cruise Line

What Plugs Are Used On Norwegian Cruise Line

How To Get To Atlantis From Cruise Port

How To Get From Fco To Civitavecchia Cruise Port

Azamara Onward: Origins, Renovation, and Future Plans

Anthony Bourdain: Unconventional Culinary Icon and Global Influencer

Authentic Tacos and Local Delights: A Culinary Adventure in Cabo San Lucas

Arctic Adventure: Uncharted Destinations With Le Commandant Charcot

Authentic Art, Exciting Auctions: The Ultimate Cruise Ship Experience!

Which Celebrity Cruise Ships Have Been Refurbished

What Drinks Can You Bring On Princess Cruise

How To Turn On Cruise Control Tesla Model 3

How To Set Cruise Control Tesla Model Y

How To Check Weather For A Cruise

How To Get From Venice To Chioggia Cruise Terminal

How to Contact Someone on a Carnival Cruise Ship

Winter is here! Check out the winter wonderlands at these 5 amazing winter destinations in Montana

• Plan Your Trip

How Many Gallons Of Fuel Does A Cruise Ship Use

Published: December 20, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Trixie Bliss

• Sustainability

Introduction

Cruise ships are renowned for their luxurious amenities, stunning ocean views, and the unforgettable experiences they offer to passengers. However, behind the scenes, these floating marvels require massive amounts of fuel to power their engines and operate the various systems onboard. Understanding the fuel consumption of cruise ships is not only important for operational purposes but also for assessing their environmental impact.

In recent years, there has been increased scrutiny on the cruise industry’s ecological footprint, prompting cruise lines to invest in technologies and practices that reduce fuel consumption and emissions. To comprehend the scale of this issue, it’s essential to explore the factors that influence fuel usage, including engine type and efficiency, ship size and passenger capacity, itinerary, and auxiliary power consumption.

By delving into these aspects, we can gain a comprehensive understanding of how many gallons of fuel a cruise ship utilizes and how it impacts the environment. Moreover, this knowledge can help both cruise operators and travelers make more informed decisions about sustainable cruising.

Factors Affecting Fuel Consumption

Several factors influence the fuel consumption of a cruise ship, ranging from technical aspects to operational practices. Understanding these factors is crucial in optimizing fuel efficiency and reducing environmental impact. Let’s explore some of the key factors:

• Engine Type and Fuel Efficiency: The type of engine installed on a cruise ship plays a significant role in its fuel consumption. Modern cruise ships typically utilize either diesel-electric or gas turbine engines. Diesel-electric engines are known for their fuel efficiency and are commonly used in cruise ships. Gas turbine engines, on the other hand, provide higher power output but consume more fuel. Cruise lines are increasingly exploring hybrid and alternative fuel technologies to improve efficiency and reduce emissions.
• Cruise Ship Size and Passenger Capacity: The size of a cruise ship and its passenger capacity directly impact fuel consumption. Larger ships generally require more fuel to propel their weight and accommodate the facilities and amenities onboard. Additionally, the number of passengers also contributes to fuel usage as it affects the load, energy demand, and overall operational requirements of the vessel.
• Speed and Itinerary: The speed at which a cruise ship travels, as well as its itinerary, can influence fuel consumption. Higher speeds typically result in increased fuel consumption due to the greater power needed to overcome water resistance. Itineraries that include longer distances or require the ship to navigate against strong currents can also impact fuel usage. Cruise lines sometimes opt for more fuel-efficient routes or reduce cruising speeds to minimize fuel consumption.
• Auxiliary Power Consumption: Apart from propulsion, cruise ships require power for various onboard systems and facilities, such as lighting, air conditioning, and entertainment. The energy consumption of these auxiliary systems can significantly contribute to overall fuel usage. Advanced technologies, such as energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems, are being implemented to reduce the energy demands of these systems and thus decrease fuel consumption.

By considering and incorporating these factors into their operational strategies, cruise lines can effectively manage and reduce fuel consumption. This not only benefits their bottom line but also contributes to sustainable cruising and minimizing impact on the environment.

Engine Type and Fuel Efficiency

The type of engine installed on a cruise ship has a direct impact on its fuel consumption. Modern cruise ships typically utilize either diesel-electric or gas turbine engines, each with its own advantages and considerations regarding fuel efficiency.

Diesel-electric engines are widely used in the cruise industry due to their higher fuel efficiency compared to gas turbine engines. In a diesel-electric system, the ship’s propulsion is provided by electric motors powered by generators driven by diesel engines. This configuration allows for better control over the power distribution and enables the engines to run at their optimal efficiency levels. Diesel-electric engines also have the advantage of producing lower emissions compared to gas turbines.

On the other hand, gas turbine engines offer higher power output but consume more fuel. These engines are often found in high-speed cruise ships or vessels with a need for rapid acceleration. Gas turbines utilize the combustion of fuel to drive a turbine and generate electricity for the ship’s propulsion. While gas turbine engines provide greater power when needed, they are less fuel-efficient than diesel-electric systems.

In recent years, cruise lines have been exploring alternative fuel technologies and hybrid engine systems to further enhance fuel efficiency and reduce environmental impact. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is gaining attention as a cleaner-burning fuel option for cruise ships, as it produces fewer emissions compared to traditional marine diesel fuel. LNG-powered cruise ships have the potential to considerably reduce greenhouse gas emissions, air pollutants, and particulate matter.

In addition to the engine type, onboard operational practices also contribute to fuel efficiency. Cruise operators can implement measures such as optimizing engine load, improving hull design for better hydrodynamics, and scheduling maintenance to ensure engines operate at their peak performance. Regular monitoring and analysis of fuel consumption data can help identify areas for improvement and guide fuel efficiency initiatives.

Ultimately, by carefully considering engine type and implementing fuel-efficient practices, cruise lines can achieve significant reductions in fuel consumption and contribute to a more sustainable future for the cruise industry.

Cruise Ship Size and Passenger Capacity

The size of a cruise ship and its passenger capacity have a direct impact on fuel consumption. Larger ships generally require more fuel to propel their weight and accommodate the facilities and amenities onboard.

When it comes to propulsion, the energy required to move a larger ship through the water is inherently higher compared to a smaller vessel. This is due to the increased mass and resistance encountered by the ship. As a result, larger cruise ships consume more fuel to overcome these forces and maintain their desired speed. The difference in fuel consumption between a small cruise ship and a mega-cruise ship can be substantial.

Additionally, the passenger capacity of a cruise ship also affects fuel consumption. More passengers mean more weight to carry, resulting in increased energy requirements for propulsion. The number of passengers also impacts the energy demand for onboard facilities such as accommodations, dining areas, entertainment venues, and other amenities. More passengers require more energy to maintain a comfortable and enjoyable experience for everyone onboard.

Cruise lines are constantly seeking ways to optimize fuel efficiency and mitigate the impact of ship size and passenger capacity. Innovative ship designs, such as streamlined hull shapes and improved hydrodynamics, can help reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency. Advanced propulsion systems, like pod drives or electric propulsion, are also being adopted to enhance energy efficiency.

Additionally, cruise operators are adopting measures to manage passenger density and optimize energy consumption onboard. This includes implementing energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems, using smart controls to regulate temperature and energy usage, and promoting responsible energy consumption among passengers and crew members.

While larger cruise ships may consume more fuel compared to smaller vessels, they also have the advantage of carrying a larger number of passengers. This can result in economies of scale, where the fuel consumption per passenger may be lower compared to smaller ships. However, it is noteworthy that reducing fuel consumption and environmental impact should remain a priority for all cruise ship sizes.

By considering ship size and passenger capacity in their operational strategies, cruise lines can work towards achieving a balance between offering memorable experiences for guests and minimizing their ecological footprint.

Speed and Itinerary

The speed at which a cruise ship travels, as well as its itinerary, can have a significant impact on fuel consumption. These factors directly influence the energy requirements needed to propel the ship and the distance it covers during a voyage.

Higher speeds typically result in increased fuel consumption. As a ship moves faster through the water, the resistance encountered by the hull increases exponentially. The engines need to generate more power to overcome this resistance, leading to higher fuel consumption. Therefore, cruise operators often find a balance between maintaining a reasonable cruising speed to meet itineraries and minimizing fuel usage.

The itinerary of a cruise ship also plays a role in fuel consumption. Itineraries that involve longer distances or require the ship to navigate against strong currents can increase fuel usage. Alternatively, routes that take advantage of favorable currents or strategic sailings can help conserve fuel. Cruise lines often analyze various factors, including wind patterns, tidal currents, and sea conditions, to determine the most fuel-efficient routes.

In recent years, there has been a shift towards slow steaming in the cruise industry. Slow steaming refers to reducing the cruising speed to achieve fuel savings. By operating at a lower speed, ships can optimize fuel consumption and decrease emissions. While this approach may extend the duration of the voyage slightly, it can have a positive impact on fuel efficiency and environmental sustainability.

Cruise lines also explore the concept of “smart cruising” to maximize fuel efficiency. This involves leveraging advanced technology systems and weather forecasting to plan routes that minimize fuel consumption while ensuring passenger comfort and safety. By taking advantage of weather patterns, currents, and other factors, ships can navigate the most optimal and fuel-efficient paths.

It is noteworthy that maintaining a balance between speed, itinerary, and passenger experience is crucial for cruise operators. While fuel-saving measures are important, providing an enjoyable and timely experience is equally vital. Therefore, cruise lines carefully evaluate speed and itinerary decisions to optimize fuel efficiency while meeting passengers’ expectations.

By considering the speed of the ship and strategically planning itineraries, cruise operators can reduce fuel consumption, reduce emissions, and contribute to a more sustainable cruising industry.

Auxiliary Power Consumption

Aside from propulsion, cruise ships require a significant amount of power to operate various systems and facilities onboard. This includes lighting, air conditioning, water purification, entertainment, and more. The energy consumption of these auxiliary systems can contribute significantly to a cruise ship’s overall fuel consumption.

One of the primary contributors to auxiliary power consumption is the lighting system onboard. Cruise ships are equipped with numerous lights throughout the vessel, including cabins, public spaces, theaters, and restaurants. Traditional lighting systems, such as incandescent bulbs, consume a significant amount of energy. However, cruise lines are increasingly transitioning to energy-efficient LED lighting, which consumes less power and has a longer lifespan. This switch not only reduces energy consumption but also minimizes the need for frequent bulb replacements.

The air conditioning and ventilation systems onboard a cruise ship also consume a substantial amount of energy. These systems are essential to maintain a comfortable environment for passengers and crew, particularly in warm climates. Cruise operators employ advanced HVAC systems with energy-saving features, such as variable speed pumps and optimized temperature controls, to reduce power consumption while ensuring passenger comfort.

Water purification and desalination systems are another significant consumer of auxiliary power. Cruise ships rely on these systems to provide clean and potable water for drinking, cooking, and other purposes. The energy-intensive process of treating and purifying seawater requires careful management and optimization to minimize fuel consumption.

In addition to these systems, entertainment facilities, onboard kitchens, laundry services, and other amenities contribute to auxiliary power consumption. Cruise lines are investing in energy-efficient technologies and practices in these areas, such as utilizing energy-saving appliances, optimizing laundry processes, and implementing smart controls to regulate power usage.

Efforts are also being made to incorporate renewable energy sources into the auxiliary power systems of cruise ships. Solar panels, for example, can be installed on open deck spaces to harness solar energy, which can then be used to power certain onboard systems. Battery storage systems are also being explored to store excess energy generated during peak production times for use during high-demand periods, reducing the reliance on traditional power sources.

By optimizing the design and operation of auxiliary systems, implementing energy-efficient technologies, and exploring renewable energy solutions, cruise lines can reduce the auxiliary power consumption and minimize the overall fuel consumption of their ships.

Average Fuel Consumption per Day

The average fuel consumption per day of a cruise ship depends on various factors, such as the ship’s size, passenger capacity, itinerary, and operational practices. While it is challenging to provide an exact figure, industry estimates suggest that a mid-sized cruise ship can consume between 50 to 150 metric tons of fuel per day.

Larger cruise ships with higher passenger capacities typically consume more fuel due to their increased size, weight, and energy requirements. On the other hand, smaller vessels with fewer amenities and a lower passenger capacity may have lower fuel consumption rates.

The itinerary of the cruise ship also affects its average fuel consumption per day. Ships that traverse longer distances or visit remote destinations may consume more fuel than those with shorter routes or frequented ports of call. Additionally, itineraries that involve significant deviations from direct routes or sail against strong currents may also lead to higher fuel consumption.

Operational practices play a crucial role in determining a cruise ship’s average fuel consumption per day. Cruise lines employ various measures to optimize fuel efficiency and reduce consumption. This includes implementing slow steaming techniques, optimizing engine load, and utilizing advanced technologies to monitor and control energy usage onboard. Additionally, regular maintenance and adherence to best practices can further enhance fuel efficiency.

It is important to note that fuel consumption can vary significantly based on the type of engine installed on the ship. Diesel-electric engines, known for their higher fuel efficiency compared to gas turbine engines, can consume less fuel per day. Cruise lines are also exploring alternative fuel technologies, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG), to further reduce fuel consumption and minimize environmental impact.

As public awareness and demands for sustainable cruising increase, cruise lines are investing in innovative solutions to reduce average fuel consumption per day. These include implementing energy-efficient technologies, optimizing itineraries for fuel efficiency, exploring alternative fuels, and continuously improving operational practices to minimize environmental impact.

By adopting these measures and embracing sustainable practices, the cruise industry is working towards reducing average fuel consumption per day and creating a more environmentally responsible and efficient cruise experience.

Environmental Impact of Cruise Ship Fuel Consumption

The fuel consumption of cruise ships has significant environmental implications. The combustion of fossil fuels, such as marine diesel or heavy fuel oil, releases greenhouse gases (GHGs) and air pollutants into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change and air pollution.

One of the primary environmental concerns associated with cruise ship fuel consumption is carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. CO2 is a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, contributing to global warming and climate change. Cruise ships are responsible for emitting a substantial amount of CO2 due to their large-scale fuel consumption. The industry is making efforts to reduce CO2 emissions by exploring alternative fuels, adopting energy-efficient technologies, and implementing sustainable practices.

In addition to CO2, cruise ship fuel consumption also results in the emission of other air pollutants, including sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter (PM). These pollutants can have detrimental effects on both human health and the environment. SO2 emissions contribute to acid rain, which harms ecosystems, while NOx emissions contribute to air pollution and the formation of smog. PM can have adverse respiratory effects and impacts on air quality.

Recognizing the need for environmental sustainability, the cruise industry has been actively working to reduce its environmental impact. Cruise lines are increasingly investing in advanced emission control technologies, such as scrubbers and catalytic converters, to reduce the release of pollutants. These technologies help remove sulfur and other harmful substances from exhaust gases, resulting in a significant reduction in emissions.

The industry is also exploring the use of alternative fuels and energy sources to reduce environmental impact. For example, some cruise lines are transitioning to liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a cleaner-burning fuel option. LNG produces fewer CO2 emissions and virtually no SO2 and particulate matter compared to traditional marine fuels. Additionally, the use of shore power, where available, allows cruise ships to plug into an electrical grid while in port, reducing reliance on onboard generators and further mitigating emissions during docking and loading operations.

Furthermore, cruise lines are committed to waste management and implementing sustainability initiatives onboard. This includes optimizing water consumption, recycling programs, and reducing food waste to minimize overall environmental impact.

By implementing these strategies and adopting sustainable practices, the cruise industry is striving to minimize the environmental impact associated with fuel consumption. Continued innovation, collaboration, and regulatory measures will be crucial in achieving a more sustainable and responsible cruise industry for the future.

The fuel consumption of cruise ships is a critical aspect that impacts both operational efficiency and environmental sustainability in the cruise industry. Understanding the various factors that influence fuel consumption, such as engine type, cruise ship size, speed, itinerary, and auxiliary power consumption, is essential in managing and reducing fuel usage.

Cruise lines are investing in technologies and operational practices to improve fuel efficiency and minimize environmental impact. From utilizing diesel-electric or gas turbine engines to exploring alternative fuels like LNG, cruise operators are continuously striving to reduce emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.

Ship size and passenger capacity also play a significant role in fuel consumption. While larger cruise ships may consume more fuel due to their size and energy demands, economies of scale can be achieved when considering fuel usage per passenger. Regardless of ship size, implementing energy-efficient systems and responsible operational practices contribute to optimizing fuel consumption.

The speed and itinerary of a cruise ship are important factors in determining fuel consumption. Finding the right balance between maintaining a reasonable cruising speed and meeting itineraries, as well as optimizing routes to minimize fuel usage, are key considerations for cruise operators.

Auxiliary power consumption, including lighting, air conditioning, and other onboard facilities, also contributes to fuel usage. By adopting energy-efficient technologies and implementing sustainable practices, cruise lines can reduce the energy demands of these systems and minimize overall fuel consumption.

The environmental impact of fuel consumption cannot be overlooked. Cruise ships emit greenhouse gases and air pollutants, contributing to climate change and air pollution. However, the industry has been actively exploring emission control technologies, alternative fuels, and sustainable practices to mitigate this impact and promote environmental sustainability.

In conclusion, the cruise industry is committed to reducing fuel consumption and minimizing its environmental impact. Through technological advancements, operational strategies, and a focus on sustainability, cruise lines are continuously working towards a more efficient and environmentally responsible future. By embracing innovative solutions and addressing the challenges of fuel consumption, the industry can ensure that cruising remains a sustainable and enjoyable experience for generations to come.

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

Boat Reviews

• Boats Specs
• Marine Pros
• Boat Insurance
• Boat Warranties
• Boat Transport
• Boat Towing
• Marine Forecasts

Your Ultimate Boating Resource

How much fuel does a cruise ship burn?

Cruise ships are some of the most fascinating vessels on our planet. They are massive, luxurious and awe-inspiring. But have you ever wondered how much fuel these floating wonders consume in a single voyage? The answer may surprise you.

Cruise ships are powered by massive diesel engines that run on heavy fuel oil (HFO). These engines are capable of burning thousands of gallons of fuel per hour depending on the size of the ship. For instance, the world’s largest cruise ship, Symphony of the Seas, has a fuel capacity of 3,300,000 liters and consumes approximately 1,000,000 liters of fuel per week.

On average, a typical cruise ship consumes around 3,500 gallons of fuel per hour at a cruising speed of 21 knots. This can add up to approximately 80,000 gallons of fuel per day, or 560,000 gallons of fuel per week. At current prices, this equates to millions of dollars in fuel costs per voyage.

The environmental impact of this level of fuel consumption cannot be ignored. Burning HFO releases large amounts of CO2, sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide, all of which contribute to global warming and air pollution. The cruise industry is aware of this problem and has been making efforts to reduce their carbon footprint by investing in cleaner fuel alternatives such as liquified natural gas (LNG) and electric propulsion.

In addition, cruise lines have been implementing energy-saving measures such as installing LED lighting, optimizing their air conditioning systems, and using shore power when docked at ports. These efforts have resulted in significant reductions in fuel consumption and emissions.

So, how do these massive ships manage to fuel up? Cruise ships refuel at ports, where bunker barges or tankers carry the HFO to the ship and transfer it via a pipeline. This process can take several hours and requires a delicate balancing act to ensure that the ship is not overloaded with fuel, which could affect its stability.

Cruise ships are massive fuel-guzzlers that consume thousands of gallons of fuel per hour. While this comes at a significant financial and environmental cost, the industry is making strides towards more sustainable practices. As consumers, we can also do our part by supporting green initiatives and choosing more eco-friendly travel options.

Related Questions

What type of wood is used for pier pilings, what is the difference between a dock and a floating pier, what is the proper technique for pulling a beginner wakeboarder, what does ‘no wake’ mean on a lake, what is the difference between wash and wake, is wakesurfing possible in the sea, why don’t wooden piers rot, what size wakeboard is needed, how to achieve more pop on a wakeboard, does wake surfing translate to ocean surfing, latest posts, 2024 pursuit os 445: an overview, dock your boat smoothly this summer with these tips, the billionaire’s playground: where to spot superyachts around the world, summertime snack ideas for your boating adventure, don't miss, our newsletter.

Get the latest boating tips, fishing resources and featured products in your email from BoatingWorld.com!

De-Winterize Your Boat the Right Way with These Professional Tips

10 essential tips for fishing near private property, the benefits of using a drift sock: guidance for anglers, lure fishing: secrets for imitating live bait and attracting fish, explore the untapped depths of america’s best bass fishing spots, tackle your catch-and-release adventures with these 6 tips, outboard motor maintenance: tips for keeping your engine in top shape, the essential boat tool kit: tools every boater needs, diy boat building: 8 tips and tricks for building your own vessel, the art of miniature maritime craftsmanship: ship in a bottle, antifouling paints: a guide to keeping your boat shipshape, beginner’s guide to standup paddle boarding: tips and techniques, boating for fitness: how to stay active on the water, kayak safety: how to stay safe on the water, anchoring in a kayak or canoe: how to secure your small boat, 2024 aquila 47 molokai review, 2024 sea-doo switch 13 sport review, 2024 aspen c120 review, 2024 yamaha 222xd review, 2024 sailfish 316 dc review, 2023 seavee 340z review, 2023 centurion fi23 review, gear reviews, megabass oneten max lbo jerkbait review, fortress anchors fx-7 anchoring system review, fortress anchors fx-11 anchoring system review, fortress anchors commando anchor kit review, fortress anchors aluminum anchors review, stay in touch.

To be updated with all the latest news, offers and special announcements.

• Privacy Policy

What Fuel Do Cruise Ships Use?

Ever wondered what keeps our magnificent cruise ships sailing smoothly? Let’s talk about something rarely discussed but vitally important – cruise ship fuel. As the cruise industry evolves, so does its approach to fuel, from traditional methods to cutting-edge, eco-friendly innovations. Let’s look at the types of fuel that powers cruise ships, as well as their impact.

What Fuel Do Cruise Ships Use? 

When we set foot on a cruise ship, enveloped in its grandeur and luxury, it’s easy to overlook what powers these floating cities. At the core, the primary fuel for most cruise ships is diesel, but not just any diesel. We’re talking about a specialized version crafted for the unique needs of maritime voyages – marine diesel oil (MDO) . This isn’t your typical fuel; it’s tailored for the high seas, ensuring that massive vessels like the ones we love can navigate the oceans smoothly.

However, although diesel is efficient, it comes with a significant environmental impact. This has led to a pivotal shift in the industry. Many cruise lines are actively seeking ways to refine their diesel usage, reducing its environmental impact. Beyond that, they’re casting their nets wider, exploring various alternatives. This proactive approach marks a significant step towards balancing our love for cruising with our responsibility towards the planet.

Types of Fuel Used in Modern Cruise Ships

As we delve deeper into the world of cruise ships, it becomes evident that fuel isn’t just a one-type-fits-all scenario. The choice of fuel is a critical decision that cruise lines make, significantly impacting both our experience on board and the environment around us. Let’s explore the different types of fuels that are currently propelling modern cruise ships.

First up, we have Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO), a long-time staple in maritime travel. HFO is known for its efficiency and cost-effectiveness , but it’s also been under scrutiny for its environmental impact. This brings us to Marine Diesel Oil (MDO) , a cleaner alternative. MDO, specially formulated for marine vessels, offers a more environmentally friendly option while maintaining the power needed for these massive ships.

However, the most exciting development in the realm of cruise ship fuels has to be Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). LNG represents a leap forward in our journey towards sustainable cruising. It burns cleaner than its counterparts, significantly reducing emissions and making it a friendlier choice for our oceans and the air.

As a cruiser who’s witnessed the evolution of these magnificent vessels, I find the shift towards more sustainable fuel options like LNG not just impressive but essential. Each type of fuel brings its unique set of characteristics, influencing everything from the smoothness of our voyage to the quality of air we breathe on deck. As cruise lines navigate these choices, they’re not just steering their ships; they’re steering the future of cruise travel toward a greener horizon.

What Influences Fuel Consumption on Cruise Ships?

When I first stepped onto a cruise ship, I was in awe of its sheer size and how effortlessly it seemed to glide through the water. It got me thinking: what influences how much fuel these giants consume? It turns out, several factors play a crucial role.

Consider it similar to driving a car. The harder you press on the accelerator, the more fuel you consume. Cruise ships are the same. The faster they sail, the more fuel they guzzle. That’s why many ships opt for a more relaxed pace, balancing speed with fuel efficiency. This approach not only conserves fuel but also enhances passenger comfort, as a gentler cruising speed can result in a smoother ride, particularly important in rougher sea conditions.

Engine and Design

The heart of a cruise ship is its engine, and its design is like the vessel’s body shape. Traditional diesel engines are common, but they’re quite thirsty when it comes to fuel. The trend is shifting towards diesel-electric and gas turbines for better efficiency. The ship’s design also plays a role. Just like a sleek car cuts through the air more efficiently, a well-designed ship can slice through the water, reducing fuel consumption.

It’s a simple equation. The further a cruise ship sails, the more the cruise ship’s fuel consumption. This relationship between distance and fuel usage is akin to road trips in your car. Just as longer road trips require more gas, lengthier voyages at sea demand more fuel. To put this into perspective, consider this: a cruise ship can burn through a gallon of fuel for just 30 to 60 feet of travel. That’s a substantial amount, especially when you tally up the miles over a long voyage. It highlights the importance of efficient route planning and speed regulation in managing fuel consumption.

When it comes to cruise ships, size is more than just a measure of grandeur; it directly influences fuel usage. Larger ships decked out with numerous amenities and capable of accommodating thousands of passengers, inherently require more fuel. This is because the greater the mass of the ship, the more energy is needed to propel it forward and keep it steady in the water. Conversely, the smallest ships in the Carnival cruise line , while offering fewer amenities, benefit from being more fuel-efficient due to their lesser size and mass, making them a more environmentally friendly option.

It’s a delicate balancing act. Cruise lines strive to provide an extraordinary experience with all the luxuries and entertainments onboard, while also keeping an eye on fuel efficiency. The size of the ship is a key factor in this balancing act, as it directly impacts not only the fuel consumption but also the overall environmental footprint of the cruise experience. For instance, the sizes of Royal Caribbean cruise ships vary significantly, with some of their largest vessels like the Oasis class being among the largest in the world, offering a wide range of amenities but also consuming more fuel, compared to their smaller, more fuel-efficient ships.

So, next time you’re on a cruise, enjoying the breeze on the deck, remember there’s a complex interplay of speed, distance, design, engine type, and size all working together to ensure your journey is as smooth as the calm seas. These factors don’t just determine how much fuel is used; they’re key to making our cruising experiences both enjoyable and sustainable.

Cruise Ship Fuel Usage: How Much Do They Really Use?

Have you ever wondered just how much fuel such a colossal vessel uses each day? The numbers are genuinely staggering.

On average, a large cruise ship uses around 250 tons of fuel daily. That’s more than 80,000 gallons! To put it in a more personal perspective, that’s way more fuel than most of us will use in our entire lifetimes. It’s a figure that never ceases to amaze me, even after all my years of cruising and exploring the high seas. Every time I stand on the deck, looking out at the horizon, I can’t help but be awed by the sheer magnitude of what it takes to bring these grand adventures to life.

What Are the Cruise Ships’ Fuel Consumption Figures?

Now, let’s navigate through the fascinating world of fuel consumption figures for cruise ships. Having sailed on various sizes of these majestic vessels, I’ve come to learn that their fuel usage is as varied as their designs and destinations.

Large Size Cruise Vessels: These are the giants of the sea, often stretching over 300 meters. On such ships, the daily fuel consumption can be a whopping 200+ metric tons (MT). Imagine, at full capacity, this can skyrocket to 235-250 MT! This isn’t just for moving the ship; it includes powering onboard generators and boilers for steam generation. But here’s an interesting fact: when these ships cruise at eco-friendly speeds, their fuel consumption can dip to around 150MT. Near ports, where maneuvering is crucial, this figure further drops to 7.5-20 MT, especially when passengers disembark for shore visits, reducing the onboard power demand.

Moderate Size Cruise Vessels: Slightly smaller, ranging between 150 to 250 meters, these ships show a noticeable decrease in fuel consumption. They typically use about 140-180 MT at over 85% load. These vessels, capable of speeds of 20 knots , also require less fuel for maneuvering, dropping to around 120-135 MT for moderate loads. And if they’re drifting near ports, the consumption can even fall below 100 MT.

Smaller Passenger Vessels: As we go smaller in size, the fuel usage trends continue to decline. Smaller passenger carriers usually consume between 100 to 120 MT of fuel. These figures aren’t set in stone but reflect general observations, including the energy needed for maintaining the luxurious onboard facilities that we all adore.

Fuel Capacity of Cruise Ships: How Much Can They Hold?

Each time I walk the decks of these ships, I’m in awe of the sheer scale of everything – right down to the fuel that keeps us moving. The capacity of these vessels to hold such vast amounts of fuel is a testament to the engineering feats and logistical planning that go into making our cruise adventures possible. The capacity of a cruise ship’s fuel tank is a marvel in itself, varying greatly depending on the size of the ship.

Take a large cruise ship, for instance, one that measures between 900 to 1,100 feet in length. A vessel of this size can store an impressive 1 to 2 million gallons of fuel. That’s a colossal amount, fueling not just the journey across vast oceans but also powering all the onboard activities and amenities that make cruising such a unique experience.

Looking at the smaller end of the scale, take for example a ferry measuring around 440 feet in length. Even these relatively modest-sized vessels can carry around 130,000 gallons of fuel. It’s impressive, considering the shorter distances they cover compared to their larger counterparts.

But the real jaw-dropper comes when we look at the gigantic cruise ships, the ones stretching over 1,300 feet. These behemoths can hold a staggering 4 million gallons of fuel or more.

Refueling a Giant: How Cruise Ships Refuel

Refueling a cruise ship, a process I’ve always found fascinating is a vital and complex operation. The very journey of these grand vessels depends on a well-orchestrated fueling process known as bunkering . Imagine the precision and coordination required to fuel these giants of the sea!

Cruise ships rely on fuel availability at various ports. It’s comforting to learn from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) that globally, there are over 400 ports equipped to supply marine fuel. When it’s time for a ship to refuel, it’s not a simple fill-up at a gas station. In this process, a key role is played by a smaller vessel, usually a barge.

The process begins with the barge securing itself to the cruise ship. Next, workers meticulously attach a hose from the supplier’s tank to the vessel’s tank. This is where the magic happens – the crew pumps fuel into the ship’s tank, meticulously filling it to the desired level.

To give you a real-world example, let’s consider the Louis, a Canadian icebreaker. This vessel’s tank can hold about 1 million gallons of fuel. During its refueling, a barge pumps approximately 110 tons of fuel into it every hour. That’s an impressive rate of fuel transfer!

This intricate process ensures that our floating sanctuaries of leisure and adventure have enough fuel to take us to our next dream destination. Every time I witness this, I’m reminded of the intricate ballet of logistics and engineering that goes into keeping these massive ships sailing smoothly.

Cruise Ships vs. Cargo Ships: A Fuel Usage Comparison

Having journeyed on both cruise ships and observed cargo vessels, I’ve noticed their starkly different fuel consumption. Cruise ships focused on providing luxurious experiences, have high and varied power needs. They’re like floating 5-star hotels, requiring fuel for everything from lighting to air conditioning, far exceeding the demands of cargo ships.

The power generation on a cruise ship can be nearly ten times that of a standard bulk carrier. This includes not only moving the ship but also running auxiliary services like steam generation.

Then there’s the matter of speed. While cargo ships typically travel at a steady 12 to 14 knots, cruise ships often zip through the seas at 24 to 26 knots. This difference in speed dramatically increases fuel consumption. As a result, a cruise ship can use up to four times more fuel than a cargo vessel, highlighting the unique energy needs of these floating cities compared to their cargo-carrying counterparts.

From the immense fuel capacities and varied consumption rates to the intricate process of refueling and the stark contrasts in usage with cargo ships, every aspect is a testament to the complex engineering and operational marvels behind our beloved cruises.

So, the next time you find yourself on a cruise, remember the incredible journey of fuel that powers your experience. It’s a reminder of the seamless blend of adventure and engineering, luxury and logistics, that makes cruising an unforgettable experience. Let’s continue to cherish these voyages, as we sail responsibly into a more sustainable future.

What alternative fuel do cruise ships use?

Cruise ships are increasingly using alternative fuels such as liquefied natural gas (LNG), hydrogen, methanol, and ammonia, aiming for 27-30% adoption by 2050 to achieve zero emissions targets.

How far can a cruise ship go without refueling?

A cruise ship can typically travel for about twelve days without refueling, although most voyages last between 7 to 10 days, rarely requiring the ship to be at sea for its maximum fuel capacity duration.

What is the green fuel for cruise ships?

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is considered a green fuel for cruise ships. It’s colorless, odorless, and non-toxic. LNG stands out as a more environmentally friendly option for cruise ships compared to conventional fuels. Its cleaner-burning nature notably lessens greenhouse gas emissions, thereby substantially lowering its ecological footprint.

Digital Marketer

I’m Bobby Pham, but you can call me “Bobby on Cruise.” I’ve been cruising the high seas and exploring the world for years, and I’m thrilled to share my passion and expertise with you. When not cruising, I spend my time on growing my marketing agency.

About FunkyCruise

Ship Gadgets

Enrich your shopping list wisely.

How Much Fuel Does A Cruise Ship Use?

How much duel does a cruise ship use? If you’ve ever wondered how much fuel a cruise ship uses, you probably have a lot of inquiries. Cruise ships are engineering marvels that accomplish amazing feats, such as transporting passengers from St. While they swim, eat, and lazily observe the sea go by, they transport St. Maarten to Barcelona. However, the crew works behind the scenes to keep the ship fueled and powered while passengers enjoy life onboard and all of its perks. In this article, we’ll address a few frequently asked queries regarding cruise ships’ fuel consumption. As you’ll see, there are a plethora of variables that affect fuel usage.

Table of Contents

What Is A Large Cruise Ship?

Although there are many different cruise ship size classifications, large ships are typically defined as those that can accommodate more than 2,500 passengers . Approximately 1,500 passengers can board a medium-sized ship, give or take. Less than 800 passengers are frequently transported by small ships. With a capacity of roughly 250 to 300 passengers, Windstar’s ships fall on the smaller end of this spectrum. 

Read More: How Many People Can A Cruise Ship Hold?

A Cruise Ship Can Hold How Much Fuel?

One to two million gallons of fuel could fit on a large cruise ship with a length of 900 to 1,100 feet . A 440-foot-long ferry, for example, might carry about 130,000 gallons of fuel, whereas a massive ship that is over 1,300 feet long can carry over 4 million gallons. The largest Windstar ships are less than 600 feet long, so as you might expect, they use a lot less fuel than a typical cruise ship. 

Cruise Ship Fuel Usage

Fuel efficiency and consumption are highly influenced by size. A smaller ship will require less fuel to travel the same distance than a larger ship. The amount of fuel a cruise ship uses depends on its size and average speed. A large cruise ship can use up to 250 tons of fuel per day, or about 80,000 gallons, on average. According to Cruise1st.co.uk, a typical cruise ship can burn between 140 and 150 tons of fuel per day, using between 30 and 50 gallons of fuel for every mile traveled.

Like driving a car, traveling at higher speeds causes an increase in aerodynamic drag, which has an immediate impact on fuel consumption. This is rarely a problem because the majority of cruise ships cruise at 21 to 24 knots.

Up to two million gallons of fuel can typically be stored on board a large cruise ship up to 1,100 feet in length. In contrast, a large vessel like the Exxon Valdez can carry up to 55 million gallons, while a private motor yacht of 40 to 60 feet can only carry 200 to 1,200 gallons.

The Harmony, a Royal Caribbean ship, has two 16-cylinder Wärtsil engines that are four stories high, according to The Guardian. They would consume approximately 66,000 gallons of highly polluting diesel fuel per day when operating at full capacity, or about 1,377 gallons per hour. It’s important to remember that Harmony of the Seas was the largest cruise ship in the world up until the new Symphony of the Seas debuted in 2017.

Queen Mary 2

The Cunard Queen Mary 2, hailed as the world’s fastest cruise ship, has a total fuel capacity of 4,381 metric tonnes. This moves the 151,400-tonne luxury liner forward at a rate of 41 feet for every gallon. This allows her to spend 10 days at sea without refueling at her average speed of 29 knots. This comes out to six tonnes when calculated per hour. If she were traveling at her top speed of 32.5 knots, she would reach her destination faster but would use a lot more fuel.

Norwegian Spirit

Despite being the smallest ship in the Norwegian fleet, this 76,000-ton, the 878-foot-long vessel has the capacity to transport 1,150 metric tonnes of fuel, or 354,144 gallons.  Her small size and average speed of 24 knots consume 1,100 gallons of fuel per hour, which makes her very fuel-efficient. She can stay at sea for an average of 12 days before needing to return to port for fuel.

Freedom Of The Seas

Each ship in the Freedom class is 1,112 feet long and travels at a speed of 21.6 knots on average. According to rumors, they typically consume 28,000 gallons of fuel per hour, which is significantly more than other ships of a similar size. Their cutting-edge propulsion systems offer an overall fuel savings of 10 to 15 percent.

MSC Magnifica

While MSC Magnifica is smaller than the other ships mentioned so far, it still has 95 tonnes and a ton of amenities to transport, including 1,259 cabins, 1,038 crew members, and nearly three times as many passengers. Magnifica has an average speed of 18 knots and a top speed of 22.90 knots. It also has an energy-saving and monitoring system for more environmentally friendly energy use, which reduces fuel consumption.

P&O Britannia

With a whopping 143,730 tonnes, P&O’s flagship ship, Britannia, resembles a five-star hotel at sea. When at sea, Britannia carries 1,398 officers and 4,324 passengers, so it requires a lot of power to navigate the waters; however, its average speed of 21.9 knots is more than sufficient, using only 3,000 gallons of fuel per hour.

Fred Olsen Boudicca

With a combined crew and passenger count of roughly 1,200 and a total tonnage of 28,388, Fred Olsen’s agile, sleek Boudicca is on the smaller side of things. Boudicca uses less fuel than the majority of liners currently crisscrossing the world’s oceans, traveling at an average speed of 18.5 knots and reaching a top speed of 22 knots.

The most obvious response to this query is that, when traveling a given distance, small ships use much less fuel than large ships do. A large ship may use up to 250 tons of fuel per day, according to the College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Colorado Boulder. To put that in perspective, that equates to more than 80,000 gallons of fuel every day. On the other hand, standard-sized ships can consume up to 150 tons of fuel each day. Fuel consumption of vessels increases as they get smaller. In general, it takes more force to move an object that is heavier. Fuel is where that power comes from.

Read More: How Fast Do Cruise Ships Go?

Factors Deciding The Fuel Consumption Of Cruise Ships

The amount of fuel used by a ship depends on a number of variables, including its design and cargo carrying capacity. Cruise ships only carry one cargo, however, and it is the most valuable of all: human life! The crew takes into account a number of changes to approximate an ideal fuel consumption outline.

Vessel Route

Cruise ships primarily stay near the coast, with sporadic excursions into the deep ocean. Passengers’ desire to partake in both onboard and shore entertainment at the same time is a major factor in this. So, as soon as the vessel route is established, the bunker estimates start.

This will also cover the duration of port stays, the sailing environment, and the carrying capacity. The same is considered for surplus bunkers if the engine department has knowledge of inclement weather.

Engine Generation And Consumption Characteristics

The crew’s knowledge of the engine characteristics becomes crucial. For instance, a third-generation engine’s performance varies greatly from eco speed to full load. This implies that based on these characteristics, every engine will have a different consumption chart.

manufacturers like MAN B&W, Sulzer, Mitsubishi, etc. include these curves within their manuals. The calculations are stable because the cruise ships maintain consistent patterns of sailing without load variation.

Ship Size And Construction

For the duration of the ship’s life, its dimensions and construction are fixed. These factors are always taken into account when calculating engine performance.

It implies that a consistent correction factor is available for these points on the consumption chart. Therefore, using these coefficients to adjust the bunker figures will result in the proper bunker values.

Sailing Speed

Modern cruise ships regularly travel at speeds of 22 to 24.5 knots across international waters. This indicates that they frequently operate with loads of 85% or more. When these circumstances exist, the performance of eco speed is reduced by more than 40% due to increased consumption.

While this is happening, most coastal sailing involves eco-friendly or slow motion. The excessive burning of fuel is thus limited by a balance of speed variation. Additionally, it guarantees that the vessel complies with local emission standards.

Load Parameters

Compared to the available cargo ships, the draughts of cruise ships vary less. Because of this, the load parameters are dependent less on it and more on the weather. With a relatively higher draught, the propeller performance changes significantly with the shifting sea conditions.

This indicates that the cruise ship’s load parameter will primarily be a dynamic factor rather than a static one. For safe navigation in such circumstances, the majority of owners always stock their ships with extra bunkers.

The Procedure For Cruise Ship Refueling

The fuel supply in the ports they visit is crucial to any owner or operator of an oceangoing ship, like a cruise ship carrying passengers. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) reports that there are over 400 ports worldwide that sell marine fuel. A small boat known as a barge transports more fuel to a cruise ship when it’s time for refueling at a port. Bunkering is a process that requires a team’s labor. 

The steps for refueling are generally as follows, though the procedure can vary somewhat:

• The barge is fastened to the cruise ship’s side.
• Workers attach a hose from the tank of the supplier to the tank of the ship.
• The fuel is pumped into the tank by the crew until the desired level is reached.

To better illustrate this process further, consider the  Louis , a Canadian icebreaker vessel The ship’s fuel tank has a capacity of about 1 million gallons. A barge will refuel the ship by pumping about 110 tons of fuel into it every hour. 

Fuel Storage On Cruise Ships

The exterior appearance of cruise ships is a key factor in their ability to draw passengers. This limits the crew’s options for fuel storage and monitoring on board the ship. The safety of the passengers under operating circumstances is also accounted for by these factors.

Remote Monitoring

For these ships to receive regular updates, it’s crucial to keep track of the fuel levels in all tanks. Every tank must have mandatory remote gauges because of the hectic nature of the job and safety concerns. All of these gauges send their readings back to the control room so that the engine crew can monitor them.

Settling And Service Tanks

Rarely do cruise ships use inferior fuel to generate electricity. Thus, the primary function of the settling tank is to primarily separate any water from the regular diesel fuel. To comply with coastal regulations, cruise ships’ general bunkers must be of a high caliber and cost.

Direct access to the propulsion engine or generator engine is provided by the service tanks. Fine filters, temperature-controlling components, and other sophisticated equipment are included in the supply system.

Bottom Tanks

With regard to storing bulk fuel, cruise ships have a bottom-heavy design. The tanks are distributed along the length rather than cumulatively. This explains the dynamic stability and also takes up less room for a larger passenger capacity.

Bunkering Safety

Safety is still crucial because most bunkering takes place prior to departure or during port visits. Additionally, the nature of cruise ships makes them even more aware of the potential risks. At the various terminals around the world, the LNG bunker uses the conventional coupling.

Eco-friendly Technology

The world is learning more and more about eco-friendly technology and the best ways to reduce carbon footprints. As a result, the cruise industry has made some significant advancements in order to maximize effectiveness and reduce CO2 emissions wherever possible. 2020 will see the implementation of new regulations requiring cruise ships to reduce their sulphur emissions from 3.5% to 0.5%; several businesses have already complied through the use of scrubber technology, which uses seawater to wash exhausts. Cruise ships also employ the following practices to become greener:

• instead of leaving their motors running while in port, ships should be plugged into electrical power sources. 
• incorporating design elements that maximize fuel efficiency, such as eco-friendly air cooling systems, twilight sensors, enhanced heat recirculation, and energy-efficient LED lighting.
• Ship hulls have silicon coatings applied to them to lessen friction as they travel through water. This technique, according to Celebrity Eclipse, lowers friction by 5%. 
• utilizing solar panels in specific ship areas. For instance, Celebrity’s Solstice Class of ships have a field of solar panels over its enclosed Aquaspa pool area, which helps to lower electricity consumption and lowers the demands on its engines.
• using exhaust gas economisers, which create steam using waste heat from the ship’s engines, to save energy. This can be used, among other things, to heat the ship’s laundry, the accommodations, and the fuel on vessels like the Queen Mary 2.

The size and speed of these enormous vessels affect how much fuel they require to move. A larger ship will require a lot more fuel than liners like the QM2. Land vehicles and the idea are comparable. Naturally, a small economy car will use less gas to travel further than a large utility truck. There is always hope for greater fuel efficiency even though cruise ships grow in size.

Lorraine Winnie

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This Is How Long It Takes To Fuel A Cruise Ship

by Contractor | Nov 12, 2020 | resources , Travel Tips | 0 comments

Cruise ships hold a lot of fuel. Whether you are cruising off the coast of California and up to Alaska or doing a transatlantic trip to Europe , cruise ships — maybe more than any other form of transportation — require a vast supply of fuel. But when they do inevitably run out of fuel, how long does it take to refuel them?

The length of time it takes to refuel a cruise ship varies widely based on the size of the vessel and its gas tank, as well as the capacity and capability of the refueling barge. But, on average , the ratio for refueling a cruise ship is 110 tons (about 3,500 gallons) of fuel per hour.              

Because there are many factors that affect a cruise ship’s fuel efficiency, we will examine how these factors determine how long it takes for a cruise ship to refuel.  Within this we will also look at how often a cruise ship needs to be refueled, even taking a peek at some of the most popular cruise ships to examine how much fuel they use. Warning: it’s a lot!

Size Of A Cruise Ship And Refueling Time

Cruise ships come in all different sizes. There is too much variety with the length of cruise ships and their general fuel capacity to give a straight answer, but here is a general breakdown of size in relation to the amount of fuel a cruise ship will hold:

There are cruise ships that are smaller than 400 ft, and there are also many cruise ships that sit somewhere between 500-900 ft. These are just average ranges to give us a place holder.

Regarding the fuel capacity, it may seem nigh impossible that anything can hold a million gallons of fuel. This is especially the case when we examine a typical car, like a Honda Civic, which holds about 12 gallons (12.4 to be exact) of gas in the tank.

After doing the math, we can see that a cruise ship holding 1 million gallons of fuel is the same amount of fuel for about 80,650 Honda Civics. Somehow, these behemoth cruise ships holding 4 million gallons of fuel can hold the fuel of upwards of 240,000 Honda Civics! Thankfully, cruise ships do not have to rely on a Shell gas station to refuel, because the rest of us couldn’t get any.

If we do some more math, we can calculate how long it takes to refuel a cruise ship entirely.  A cruise ship can be refueled at about 3,500 gallons per hour. Applying this to an average small vessel — which holds about 130,000 gallons of fuel — it would take almost 40 hours to completely fill it up.

A medium size cruise ship, holding 1 million gallons of fuel, would take about 285 straight hours of fueling to be maxed out! We won’t even mention the time it takes to refuel a large cruise ship.

It’s the Barge’s Job to Refuel Cruise Ships

Thankfully, the captain of the cruise ship is not going to wait till the tank is on empty before refilling it. This means that a cruise ship captain is probably not going to wait almost 12 days at sea to refuel the tank. But, whether out on the sea or in the port, the cruise ship will require the assistance of a much smaller ship whose sole purpose is to help with refueling: the barge.

Barges are flatboats that are usually square and appear to be submerged deep within the water. Historically barges have been used primarily for transporting bulk products and, while they still do this, there are certain kinds of barges that are made specifically to carry fuel and refill other ships.

There are over 400 marine ports in the world that provide fueling to cruise ships. Barges can come out to meet the cruise ship, or they will refuel the cruise ship while on port. So if the cruise ship’s route is from Los Angeles to Anchorage, Alaska, the ship may get fueled up while on route, but it will certainly get fueled while at the port in Anchorage, and once again when it returns.

How Often Does A Cruise Ship Need To Be Refueled?

The frequency of refilling the fuel in a cruise ship varies widely. Smaller cruise ships will naturally consume less fuel, and cruise ships that are traveling slower will use less as well. This means that a small cruise ship traveling slowly will consume the least amount of fuel; while a large cruise ship going fast will consume the absolute most amount of fuel. Every other ship is somewhere in between.

As we mentioned above, there are other factors that affect how quickly a cruise ship will burn fuel. Speed and size of the ship are primary, but the weight that the ship carries and the weather — such as the speed and direction of the wind —  that the ship faces will also be important factors.

There are two important items to keep in mind when calculating how often a cruise ship needs to be refueled. The first is that the average cruise ship will burn between 30-50 gallons of fuel per nautical mile . The second is that a  good-sized barge can hold about 450,000 gallons of fuel to supply to cruise ships.

With these facts in arm, let’s take a look at some examples of actual cruise ships to see how often — and how much — they need to be refueled.

Norwegian Spirit

The European cruise ship, the Norwegian Spirit , sits right in between the small-medium range in size at just over 880 ft. The ship holds about 350,000 gallons of fuel and has an average speed of 24 knots (nautical miles) per hour. A nautical mile is just a bit longer than a normal mile. Taking an average of 40 gallons per knot, the Spirit will use 960 (almost 1,000!) gallons of fuel per hour.

That is at least 160,000 gallons of fuel per week, meaning that the Spirit has to fill up about every 2 weeks. If the ship is completely empty on fuel, and a barge pumps about 3,500 gallons per hour, then it’s going to take a lot of hours before the ship is full!

If the ship is averaging 24 knots per hour all day long, then it will also go around 4,000 knots in a given week, more than enough distance to get almost anywhere before refueling.

If the tank is half full, it will still take a few days — 50 hours — to refuel it back up to full.

Queen Mary 2

Another famous cruise ship, the Queen Mary 2 , is right at the edge of the medium-large size of vessel, measuring at 1,132 ft — more than 3 football fields put together. The cruise ship has a reputation for its speed and can average a whopping 29 knots per hour. It also has a fuel capacity of around 1,150,000 gallons.

Because it is so big and so fast, we will take the highest average of 50 gallons per knot to use for the Mary . At 29 knots per hour, it uses around 1450 gallons of fuel per hour! However, as some reports indicate, the Mary seems to be refueled less than every two weeks. This means that it may actually use more than 50 gallons per knot!

If the tank is half full, fueling will be almost 165 hours — basically a whole week! — to complete. Thankfully, cruise ships go through rigorous maintenance before and after trips which gives crew members and mechanics ample time to see that the tanks of cruise ships are full and ready to go.

Related Posts:

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Privacy Overview

How Much Fuel Does a Cruise Ship Use?

Erin is a digital media specialist with many years of experience covering a wide variety of topics for a number of websites and publications.

Learn about our Editorial Policy .

Beyond providing everything you need for a vacation, a cruise ship also provides transportation to a destination. Indeed, the demands of a cruise ship are extraordinary and so is the fuel consumption. Of the many fascinating questions cruise ships inspire, the most common is how much fuel they use.

Cruise Ship Fuel Usage

Size is key to fuel consumption and efficiency. A smaller ship will use less fuel than a large ship to travel the same distance. Both size and the average speed a cruise ship travels impact how much fuel it uses. On average, a large cruise ship can use up to 250 tons of fuel per day , which is around 80,000 gallons. Cruise1st.co.uk claims a normal cruise ship can use around 140 to 150 tons of fuel each day, consuming 30 to 50 gallons per mile travelled.

• Turn a Towel Into a Treasure by Folding It Into a Gift Basket
• Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader Questions to Put You to the Test
• Easy Methods for Getting Yellow Out of Your Gray Hair

Similar to a car, traveling at higher speeds means an increase in aerodynamic drag, which directly impacts fuel use. Given that most cruise ships travel at 21 to 24 knots , this isn't often an issue.

In general, a large cruise ship up to 1,100 feet in length can carry as much as two million gallons of fuel on board. For comparison, a private motor yacht between 40 and 60 feet only carries 200 to 1,200 gallons, while something massive like the Exxon Valdez carries up to 55 million gallons.

The Guardian reported that the Harmony, owned by Royal Caribbean, has two four-story high, 16-cylinder Wärtsilä engines. At full power, they would burn around 1,377 gallons of fuel per hour, or about 66,000 gallons a day of high-polluting diesel fuel. It's important to note that Harmony of the Seas was the biggest cruise ship in the world until the new Symphony of the Seas took to the water in 2017.

Queen Mary 2

In the case of the Queen Mary 2, the ship is huge at 1,132 feet long and a weight of 151,400 tons. This storied passenger liner is built for speed and is capable of a cruising speed of 29 knots and a top speed of 32.5 knots. Compare this to most cruise ships and you can see that the QM2 is a water rocket. It travels at a brisk clip that requires more fuel. According to Chavdar Chanev of CruiseMapper.com , the QM2 averages six tons of marine fuel per hour.

Norwegian Spirit

At a petite 878 feet long and 75,500 tons, this ship is much more fuel efficient. When sailing, the Spirit chugs along at an average speed of 24 knots and burns approximately 1,100 gallons per hour. Thus, with a fuel capacity of over 350,000 gallons, it can conceivably remain at sea for 12 days without refueling.

Freedom of the Seas

Freedom class ships are all 1,112 feet long with an average speed of 21.6 knots. They are rumored to have a standard fuel consumption of 28,000 gallons of fuel per hour, which seems much higher than other similar ships. Their propulsion systems are state-of-the-art, providing a 10 to 15 percent fuel savings overall.

Size Matters

When considering how much fuel it takes to move one these massive vessels, it depends on the size and speed. Liners like the QM2 will need far more fuel than a smaller ship. The concept is similar to land vehicles. Naturally, a small economy car will run longer on less gasoline than a big utility truck. Though cruise ships continue to get bigger, there's always hope for better fuel efficiency.

Cruise Ship Gas Mileage

• Categories : Naval architecture & ship design for marine engineers
• Tags : Marine engineering

When one pictures a cruise liner, one probably pictures a great behemoth chugging its way across the ocean, transporting thousands of passengers in accommodations at the height of luxury. It would seem like cruise ship gas mileage would be quite low, then. To a degree this is true. However, when some other factors than straight gas mileage, such as gas per mile per person, are taken into account, cruise ships’ fuel efficiency doesn’t look so bad. In fact, as I’ll show later, cruise liners aren’t bad at all when compared to jumbo jets.

Fuel Efficiency for a Large Cruise Ship

Just as with cars, larger cruise ships tend to have lower fuel efficiency, at least in gross terms. To give the reader an idea of the fuel efficiency of large cruise ships, I’d like to use the world’s largest cruise liner as an example. The MS Oasis of the Seas, completed in 2010, has a total length of 361.8 meters, a height of 72 meters above the sea line, and room in its 16 passenger decks for 6,296 passengers. At its cruising speed of 22.6 knots (26 mph), the Oasis of the Seas burns 11361 gallons of fuel each hour. The fuel efficiency, then, is 0.0023 mpg , or 12.08 feet per gallon!

This figure seems very low, especially in comparison with mpg ratings for cars. However, keep in mind that a cruise ship carries many more people than does a Honda Civic. The Oasis of the seas, when fully occupied, gets 14.40 mpg per passenger, or 19.36 mpg per person including the crew. This is still a low figure, but not quite as absurd as the overall miles per gallon number.

Image: Wikimedia Commons - Oasis of the Seas

Small Cruise Ship Fuel Efficiency

It is difficult to find precise mpg figures for smaller cruise ships, but it’s possible to get a rough estimate based on engine outputs. Cruise ships in the Voyager class are about 311 meters in length, but have a tonnage of “just” 138,000 Tons (compare that to the Oasis of the Seas, which comes in with 225,282 gross Tons). The Voyager class boats use diesel engines, which combined have a total output of 75,600 kW. Assuming an efficiency of about 30% means the boat is burning roughly 1.84 gallons of fuel per second, or 6640 gallons per hour. Since the ship’s cruising speed is 23.7 knots, or 27.3 mph, the cruise ship’s fuel efficiency is roughly 0.004 mpg. Since the ship carries 3114 passengers, its gas mileage is 12.79 mpg/passenger, or 17.65 mpg/person including crew. This isn’t too different from the much larger Oasis of the Seas, surprisingly enough.

Cruise Ship Gas Mileage Compared to Jetliner

To put these figures into perspective, consider a typical jetliner. The Boeing 747-400 seats 624, cruises at 567 mph, and has a range of 8357 miles. With a total fuel capacity of 57,285 gallons, the 747-400 has a gas mileage of about 0.15 mpg. Taking passengers into account, the figure is 91 mpg/passenger! A fully loaded jetliner is actually pretty fuel efficient - about the same per person as an SUV. It’s true, then that cruise ships don’t have very good gas mileage. But it helps to put things in perspective: true, the ships burn a gallon of fuel every 50 feet, but they’re moving 5000+ people! Viewed in this light, cruise ships are just a little bit wasteful.

Oasis of the Seas Fact Sheet

Voyager of the Seas Fact Sheet

747-400 Specifications

• Seabourn Cruise Line

How much fuel does a Seabourn ship burn?

By Martita B. , November 18, 2007 in Seabourn Cruise Line

Recommended Posts

I've been wondering if anyone knows how much fuel a Seabourn ship burns per day? (average?) I read the QE2 gets 40 to 50 ft. per gal.:confused: (sounds like a Humvee)

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

I've been wondering if anyone knows how much fuel a Seabourn ship burns per day? (average?) I read the QE2 gets 40 to 50 ft. per gal.:confused: (sounds like a Humvee) Thanks! Martita B.

Hi Martha--I think this is the key that will determine the life of the triplets-I would guess that I requires very little more fuel to move 400+ people on a new modern ship than it does to move 200 on the triplets. It may well be the fuel costs will make Seabourn's little ships non competitive. Shorter trips in miles sailed will help--more time in ports will help--won't solve the problem, but might keep us sailing a little longer! Don

I totally agree ~~I just hope "they" are taking good care of our Triplet's Rolls Royce engines ~~~buying inexpensive (cheap) fuel

would not be conducive or serviceable for these engines.

I just wonder who might know how much fuel the 'lit Triplets burn each day ~~an average. And what type fuel.

Have a wonderful Tucson Thanksgiving!!

There are a number of factors that go into fuel consumption both for main engines and generators. For the main engines the fuel consumption can skyrocket as the engine speed increases, so slower cruises can save huge amounts of fuel. Similarly, changing bulbs to compact flourescents, using more efficient air conditioning systems, etc. can also make big differences. Then there are modifications can be made to engines dependent upon the loads they have.

Sooooo, the short answer is: It depends.

I well understand and will gladly pay the surcharge starting next year.

Price for a ton of heavy fuel oil, the middle of Oct., was $400~~!

Last Friday the fuel hit $460 per ton.....open market. Bunker fuel oil prices have gone up 17% over the past few months.

The few dollars we'll be charged per sailing, per day is reasonable. (I think Silverseas will be adding a $10 per day surcharge.)

I have noticed on several of the other CC forums some folks are cancelling their cruises because of the surcharges.:confused:

Have a good week!

• 2 weeks later...

Margate Cruiser

It's hard for me to believe that someone would cancel for $7.00 a day or $10.00 a day if the cruise is several thousand of dollars. Now you will see the T|A gving back the gass sur charge like some do the tipping.

I am not sure what TA would rebate fuel charges. Maybe ones that ordinarily charge full price?

Ports can be expensive. Thats why crossings are cheaper, days into price.:cool:

Normally the ships burn on full sea days about 30 metric tons per day.

Depends on the speed of the ship required, in port we use less because the generators use far less fuel then the main engines.

Out of curiosity, what is the average burn per hour per main engine at normal running speed (and what is that?)?

I am interested in the rate versus some of the newer superyachts.

Out of curiosity, what is the average burn per hour per main engine at normal running speed (and what is that?)?   I am interested in the rate versus some of the newer superyachts.   Thanks!

There are 4 main engines, 2 3000HP, 2 2000HP. The 3000HP do about 0.4MT per hour, the 2000HP 0.3MT per hour.

Then you still need to include boiler, generators and incinerators for the true fuel usage.

Just think we are all saving in energy at home. No driving, heat is lowered in the winter month for those people who live in the cold. No showers, Less cooking. The list is endless. So in effect we are all saving more than the $7.00 a day with a ceiling of 70.00. So my thought we are all helping the evident by cruising. I think we all should get a tax deduction for taking a cruise. We are all being very GREEN. Lets write our congressman.

You just won a Cuban cigar!:D

Thanks for the expert information!

$7 per day fuel surcharge? Just drink one more martini per day and you are even.

All the best,

Just thought I would have fun on this thread. I love when we go from a port to port that is so close and we go in circles all night long. Why can't we drop anchor. Don't smoke but you can buy me a beer. LOL

On this thread who will be on the cruise from Santiago to Rio?

Simple. To stay in the regulations of MARPOL, to be able to discharge the ship must be outside 4 nautical miles from land, AND having a speed greater then 6 knots. If you would go for anchor, the ship would not be able to discharge anything.

Does it take from 6PM till 8AM that long for discharge? Remember it's a little ship.

You should be in the know. I saw your profile

Okey Dokey ~~~I think I now know who you are!:D

Thanks for the information ~~keep those answers comin' !;)

Your right doesnt take that long, but you still need to go outside the 4NM line, or even if you want to discharge foodwaste, 12NM, and if you have the time, you take the time. But if you stop the ship you need to empty the ship again after anchor up, so often it is not really useful to stop it. But it happends that we stop and drift for a couple of hours, usually after midnight. :)

There are 4 main engines, 2 3000HP, 2 2000HP. The 3000HP do about 0.4MT per hour, the 2000HP 0.3MT per hour.   Then you still need to include boiler, generators and incinerators for the true fuel usage.

Glad to know that rogier21 is such a super expert. Very insightful and informative . . . BUT . . . help me better understand what this means in miles per gal., etc. Any way to help get a sense of that?

Do the ship burn fuel oil or is it some much lower grade of fuel or oil or tar? Do all cruise ships burn such a lower grade of fuel as I have read recently?

THANKS! Terry in Ohio

Glad to know that rogier21 is such a super expert. Very insightful and informative . . . BUT . . . help me better understand what this means in miles per gal., etc. Any way to help get a sense of that?   Do the ship burn fuel oil or is it some much lower grade of fuel or oil or tar? Do all cruise ships burn such a lower grade of fuel as I have read recently?   THANKS! Terry in Ohio

And don't forget Imperial Gallons versus American Gallons, and of course for the information of just about the whole world except the USA - km per litre, or as we measure it here in Australia Litres per 100 km.:confused: ;)

While on the old Royal Princess a few years ago, I asked one of the officers about the fuel used. He described it as Bunker Fuel, which is a very thick, heavy and impure fuel oil. It had to be treated on-board, first by heating it to enable it to flow and then by filtering. At a couple of stops we saw a road tanker pull up to be filled with the residual sludge from this process.

Of course the Seabourn ships' engines are much smaller. They may well use a different process, or even a different fuel.

And don't forget Imperial Gallons versus American Gallons, and of course for the information of just about the whole world except the USA - km per litre, or as we measure it here in Australia Litres per 100 km.:confused: ;)   While on the old Royal Princess a few years ago, I asked one of the officers about the fuel used. He described it as Bunker Fuel, which is a very thick, heavy and impure fuel oil. It had to be treated on-board, first by heating it to enable it to flow and then by filtering. At a couple of stops we saw a road tanker pull up to be filled with the residual sludge from this process.   Of course the Seabourn ships' engines are much smaller. They may well use a different process, or even a different fuel.   Cheers, Steve.

Good points on the different gallons, etc. Hope to hear more on those technical and operating details about Bunker Fuel and whether most of the cruise ships use that type. I am sure some experts will explain what the history and environmental details are on Bunker Fuel vs. the other and/or "better" fuels.

Thanks. Terry in Ohio

You and rogier21 are talking apples and oranges. Rogier21 posted the fuel consumption rate in metric tons per hour while you want to equate it to miles per gallon fuel. This will require some caluclations, two assumptions and a bit of informationon bunkers fuel oil.

Cands is correct, that most cruise ships and pretty much all maritime shipping use bunker fuel oil. Fuel oil is a product of the petroleum distillation process where the various grades of fuel oils are either from the distillate or the residue of that process . The higher grade, lower molecular weight and lower boiling temperature fuel oils are from the distillate such as kerosene, diesel and are the most expensive. The high molecular weight, higher viscosity and higher boiling point fuels come from the residue of the petroleum distillation process. Hence, bunker fuels come from the residue and are the cheapest as they are unable to be processed further into a better product. Since Seabourn is only charging $5 per person per day fuel surcharge implies the triplets and their younger sisters may be burning the least expensive bunkers on the market.

A metric ton (or long ton) is 1,000 kilograms or 2204.62 pounds. The American "short ton" is 2,000 pounds. To convert the weight of fuel burned into a volume, we have to divide the weight by the density of the fuel. If memory serves me correctly, bunker fuel has a density about 1,000 kg per cubic meter or MT per cubic meter and 1 cubic meter equals 264 US gallons. This density will be my first assumption.

With all 4 main engines running, they will burn (per Rogier21) about 1.4 MT per hour times 264 gallons per MT which equals 369.6 gallons bunker fuel burned per hour. My second assumption that the ship is sailing at the cruising speed of 16 knots (nautical miles per hour) times 1.15 statute miles per nautical mile equals 18.4 miles per hour. Then divide 18.4 miles per hour by 369.6 gallons per hour equals 0.0498 miles per gallon or almost 263 feet per gallon. At the other end of the spectrum, the QM2 gets something like 6 inches per gallon!

In the meantime, for more information about bunker fuel oils you can "Google" and have lots of information to read.

I think there are apples, oranges and pears...and some vegetables here!;)

Most engines have fuel consumption based upon time and load (how hard it must work), not distance, so miles per gallon just isn't going to happen. but you can figure, for very quick and very dirty purposes that the engines are each burning about 300 litres an hour. That comes out to about what is said above...but I didn't need any fancy math.;)

Also, there are many grades of fuel and I doubt the triplets are running on the lowest grade (which is very heavy and dirty). Usually freighters burn that stuff...where it is permitted, as the triplets do visit many ports. Also, there are a number of environmental constraints that are in place and are being put into place that will further restrict the use of high sulphur and/or high nitrous oxide emission fuels.

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

• Welcome to Cruise Critic
• Hurricane Zone 2024
• Cruise Insurance Q&A w/ Steve Dasseos of Tripinsurancestore.com June 2024
• New Cruisers
• Cruise Lines “A – O”
• Cruise Lines “P – Z”
• River Cruising
• Cruise Critic News & Features
• Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
• Special Interest Cruising
• Cruise Discussion Topics
• UK Cruising
• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
• Canadian Cruisers
• North American Homeports
• Ports of Call
• Cruise Conversations

Announcements

• New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!

Write Your Own Amazing Review !

Click this gorgeous photo by member SUPERstar777 to share your review!

Features & News

LauraS · Started 11 hours ago

LauraS · Started Thursday at 03:52 PM

LauraS · Started Tuesday at 08:46 PM

LauraS · Started Monday at 05:04 PM

LauraS · Started May 24

• Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
• Find Your Roll Call
• Meet & Mingle
• Community Help Center
• All Activity
• Member Photo Albums
• Meet & Mingle Photos
• Favorite Cruise Memories
• Cruise Food Photos
• Cruise Ship Photos
• Ports of Call Photos
• Towel Animal Photos
• Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
• Write a Review
• Live Cruise Reports
• Member Cruise Reviews
• Create New...

Can Cruising Really Become More Eco-Friendly?

A s the cruise industry pursues its industry-wide goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 , a lot of options for new energy sources are on the table. These include biofuels and synthetic fuels, batteries and hydrogen fuel cells, as well as photovoltaic (solar) power. Wind, too, the most classic and natural form of ship "fuel" could also be increasingly used to at least partially power cruise ships big and small.

"I am hopeful for wind in the future," says Bill Burke, chief maritime officer for Carnival Corporation , the world's largest cruise company with nine cruise brands that include Carnival, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Cunard, and Seabourn. "I would hope it's in the next decade," Burke tells AFAR as he discusses wind power as a way for cruise ships to reduce-and ultimately eliminate-greenhouse gas emissions.

But if the cruise industry is going to meet its short- and long-term climate goals, ships themselves will likely end up using multiple emissions-reducing fuels and technologies. Cruise lines are investing billions of dollars in future ways to power ships, even trying to predict green energy sources and stumbling blocks that are not even on the map yet. There's a reason: Cruise ships are built to last 25 to 30 years; those debuting now need to be able to run on sustainable engine technologies and greener fuels that may not have even been created or fine-tuned yet, to meet future goals.

Future fuel sources for cruise ships

Currently, the focus in the cruise industry is on Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), the cleanest burning fossil fuel available at scale, which is being used on more than a dozen cruise ships as a "transitional fuel," meaning that it can easily be replaced by green bio or synthetic LNG using the same engines and fuel supply systems currently in place once those more sustainable fuels are more widely available. There are 25 LNG-powered cruise ships scheduled to debut in the next five years, according to the Cruise Line Industry Association (CLIA).

LNG reduces virtually all sulfur emissions, all or most particulate emissions, and most nitrous oxides. The fuel has been criticized for emitting methane, but that may be an outdated argument. Critics often don't consider new technology addressing methane slip, says Burke.

Carnival operates 13 LNG ships. Royal Caribbean Group (which consists of the cruise lines Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea) is introducing LNG ships also set up to test fuel cell technology-the 728-passenger Silver Nova for ultra-luxury line Silversea, which launched last month, and the 7,600-passenger Icon of the Seas from Royal Caribbean, which will debut as the largest ship in the world in January 2024 .

Also arriving in short order are seven ships that will be either methanol ready or methanol capable, coming from brands such as Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, and Disney Cruise Line. These ships will be able to switch to green methanol, which will make operation almost climate neutral when it becomes more readily available. Carnival Corp. is looking to hedge its bets and retrofit some existing ships for methanol in the near term and may also order some methanol-ready newbuilds in the future, according to Burke.

When it comes to LNG versus methanol, "We don't necessarily want to pick a winner, so we'll have ships with both," Burke says.

New fuels are a key to decarbonizing, but their availability is also the biggest challenge facing the cruise industry in terms of arriving at net zero by 2050. Among other issues, cruise ships will be competing with the rest of the maritime sector, aviation, and several other industries for the green fuels.

Looking towards 2050, "The long pole in the tent is green power," says Burke.

In addition to using LNG and methanol as fuel sources, cruise lines are running an increasing number of pilot programs to test other sustainable fuels on ships currently operating. Molecularly identical to traditional marine gas oil, these greener fuels can also be dropped in to existing engines-which means that older vessels would be able to use them as well.

Carnival began using a biofuel blend of marine gas oil mixed with raw natural materials on German line AIDA's 3,300 passenger AIDAprima in July 2022. Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas became the first ship in the U.S. to run on renewable diesel in October 2022.

Cruise lines are working with companies making biofuels from manure, vegetables, used vegetable oil, tallow, and wood.

CLIA reports that there are 32 pilot projects and collaboration initiatives underway between cruise lines and sustainable fuel producers and engine companies. Also, seven newbuild cruise ships that are currently in the works are anticipated to run on zero-carbon fuels-including five hoping to run on green methanol and two on green hydrogen (from MSC Groups' new luxury line Explora Journeys ).

But lack of supply is an issue. "We've tested a bunch of different feedstocks and we're pleased with the results, and we'll try some more over the next couple of years, but they are generally not available in large volumes today and remain much more expensive than their fossil fuel counterparts," says Burke.

During a 4-day sailing in June, the 6,300-passenger MSC Euribia sailed from Sant Nazaire, France, to Copenhagen to prove that net-zero cruising is possible today. The LNG-powered ship used bio-LNG from Nordic energy company Gasum, a leading producer of biogas, and technology to optimize energy efficiency.

Wind and solar fit into the testing scenario as well. Think of it as an open call for sustainable options. There's even been mention of ammonia, hydrogen, and nuclear-though Burke, for one, doubts that these will take hold in cruise.

Batteries, fuel cells, and wind power

Batteries and fuel cells will also be a piece of the 2050 net-zero goals pie. Some cruise lines, such as the Norwegian company Hurtigruten and French line Ponant, already have ships that can operate for at least a few hours using battery power and/or hydrogen-fuel cells, mimicking some of the developments we see in the auto industry, where a big push for more electric vehicles (EVs) is currently underway, and to a lesser extent in the airline sector .

Larger cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean, Viking, and MSC Cruises are newly equipping ships with hydrogen fuel cells that can provide power for short periods of time or serve as auxiliary power systems, reducing fuel consumption. And Carnival Corp. is testing a 10-megawatt battery on AIDAprima . "There is potential for peak shaving, allowing you to operate at a more efficient speed or reduce your engine run hours," says Burke.

According to CLIA, 15 percent of newbuilds entering service in the next five years will be equipped with battery storage and/or fuel cell technology.

"We anticipate that fuel cell systems and battery technology can help supplement some of the main energy supply needed to run our ships," Jason Liberty, chairman of Royal Caribbean Group, said in the company's annual sustainability report , released in April (and based on 2022 research and insights). "This complex and cutting-edge undertaking changes how energy traditionally has been generated and distributed onboard cruise ships."

Wind is coming soon, too. The first passenger cruise ships using a SolidSail technology, developed by French shipyard Chantiers de l'Atlantique, will debut in 2026 and 2027. The 100-passenger vessels, ordered up by Orient Express , will mark the luxury hotel company's first move into the cruise market and will be powered by a foldable, large, rigid sail made of composite materials.

For its potential wind scenario, Carnival Corporation is looking at "a vertical rotor-type piece," Burke says. It would be up on top of the ship near the exhaust stacks and will likely be introduced on a newbuild (versus an existing vessel).

The cruise ships of the future

Some cruise companies are further pushing the envelope with ship design, hoping to introduce net-zero ships as early as seven years from now.

Ponant is aiming for a zero-greenhouse gas emissions ship in 2030. The prototype 200-passenger vessel runs on wind, solar, low-temperature hydrogen fuel cells, plus a high-temperature fuel cell carbon-capture technology.

Hurtigruten , too, is looking for a 2030 launch of a ship that runs on wind from retractable sails, solar power, and batteries , with some of the planned technology still in early development while other developments have "reached a relatively advanced stage," according to the cruise line. The prototype ship would carry 500 passengers.

Royal Caribbean Group plans to build a ship by 2035 that can achieve net zero for all ship operations "without emitting air pollutants such as sulfur dioxides and nitrogen oxides." The company has looked at LNG, methanol, and ammonia, among other green concepts.

Reducing fuel consumption

Even as new, more sustainable fuels and energy sources enter the mix, cruise lines will need to continue to reduce fuel consumption to help keep costs down-sustainable fuels cost more than traditional marine fuels.

Many ships have updated their HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning) systems to be more efficient and have switched to LED lighting to minimize the amount of energy they need.

Among the other cruise industry innovations for reducing fuel use are hull coatings to reduce drag. Some ships float on a bed of millions of microscopic bubbles created by air-lubrication systems in order to reduce drag and conserve fuel. Another way to cut fuel use is better route planning and slowing down, says Burke.

Plugging in at port

Cruise lines have also increasingly invested in shoreside electricity, which allows ships to switch off engines for significant emissions reductions in port-something that of course makes the most sense and has the greatest positive impact when the local power grid itself is green.

Depending on the mix of energy sources, plugging in-which literally means using giant plugs-can reduce emissions up to 98 percent, according to studies, including by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency . According to CLIA's latest environmental data report , 120 out of 292 member ships are now equipped for shoreside electricity-a 48 percent increase since 2022, and 86 percent of CLIA member ships coming online between now and 2028 will be able to plug in at port.

There is a pretty major hurdle here, however. While an increasing number of cruise ships have plug-in capability-CLIA puts the number at 210 ships by 2028-only 32 ports, or less than 2 percent of the world's cruise ports, have at least one cruise berth with plug-in capability. The European Union's Fit for 55 green program calls for all major ports in Europe to be required to have shoreside power by 2030. But obviously there is a need for more plug-in capabilities at ports globally.

The 2050 outlook

CLIA and its member cruise companies are calling for support of research efforts in order to meet the 2050 sustainability goals.

"With the right level of support from governments and international institutions in incentivizing acceleration of technological advancements and renewable fuels availability, the industry can achieve net-zero emissions cruising by 2050," says Michele Francioni, senior vice president of optimization for the cruise division of MSC Group.

Is the industry ready to meet its 2050 goals? "I think we're in a pretty good position," says Burke. But he admits there is a long road ahead.

"I think the train has left the station and we're trying to do it," he says. "We certainly hope to achieve net zero, but there is a lot that has to go right to enable this."

Cutting pollution from the shipping industry accidentally increased global warming, study suggests

A reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions may have caused "80% of the measured increase in planetary heat uptake since 2020."

The shipping industry's attempt to reduce air pollution has inadvertently accelerated global warming in the short term and contributed to record-breaking sea temperatures, according to a new climate model.

Recent global shipping regulations slashed the sulfur dioxide emissions from cargo ships by a dramatic 80%. But this rapid reduction in sulfur pollution may have "created an inadvertent geoengineering termination shock with global impact," a new study has suggested. 

"The warming effect is consistent with the recent[ly] observed strong warming in 2023 and [is] expected to make the 2020s anomalously warm," the researchers wrote. The warming is equivalent in magnitude to "80% of the measured increase in planetary heat uptake since 2020."

And this reduction in pollution "could lead to a doubling (or more) of the warming rate in the 2020s compared with the rate since 1980," the researchers suggested in the new study, published May 30 in the journal Communications Earth and Environment .

Related: The 165-year reign of oil is coming to an end. But will we ever be able to live without it?

The new shipping regulations, which were implemented in 2020 by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) reduced the maximum sulfur content in shipping fuel from 3.5% to 0.5% , with the aim of improving air quality and preventing an estimated 30,000 premature deaths each year. 

But aerosols such as sulfur dioxide particles are highly reflective, and when they are released they settle in the stratosphere and bounce the sun's rays back into space — sometimes acting as a giant planetary sunblock. 

Sign up for the Live Science daily newsletter now

Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox.

So when the regulations brought decades of massive pollution to an end, they began an unintended geoengineering experiment. Since March 2023, the loss of the sulfurous fog — combined with accelerating global warming due to burning fossil fuels, the El Niño climate pattern and the 2022 eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano — has sent average sea surface temperatures to record-shattering highs .

However, other climate scientists have disputed some of the study's conclusions. Gavin Schmidt , the director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, told Live Science that, while the researchers' estimate for the increased solar energy entering Earth's atmosphere is accurate, "their estimate of the temperature response is not quite right, I think."

Schmidt pointed to an analysis made by Zeke Hausfather , a climate scientist at the Breakthrough Institute, which argues that the study's warming calculation relies on an overly simplified model that misunderstands heat uptake from the ocean, meaning the study overstates the sulfur reduction's warming impact. 

"We are still waiting on updated analyses related to the HTHH [Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai] volcano, other aerosol emissions, the solar cycle and various aspects of internal variability," Schmidt added. "That is on top of other analyses of the IMO rules that are ongoing."

— Breach of key global warming threshold 'inevitable' as carbon emissions hit record high

— Could we ever pull enough carbon out of the atmosphere to stop climate change?

— Scientists say dehydrating the stratosphere could be plausible option to combat climate change

The findings come at a time when governments are eyeing up controversial solar radiation management (SRM) techniques, which propose to dim the sunlight reaching Earth by intentionally releasing aerosols such as sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere. 

But Schmidt believes that these techniques are not viable. 

"I strongly doubt that this [solar radiation management] will ever be part of any sustainable response to climate change — but the issues that underlie that conclusion have very little to do with the science and almost everything to do with how such an effort is governed and how fragile it will be to economic or geopolitical uncertainties," Schmidt said. 

Ben Turner is a U.K. based staff writer at Live Science. He covers physics and astronomy, among other topics like tech and climate change. He graduated from University College London with a degree in particle physics before training as a journalist. When he's not writing, Ben enjoys reading literature, playing the guitar and embarrassing himself with chess.

The 165-year reign of oil is coming to an end. But will we ever be able to live without it?

Warm ocean water is rushing beneath Antarctica's 'Doomsday Glacier,' making its collapse more likely

Some patients with brain injuries have life support withdrawn too soon, study suggests

Most Popular

• 2 James Webb telescope sees 'birth' of 3 of the universe's earliest galaxies in world-1st observations
• 3 Space photo of the week: NASA sees a 'Platypus' move on Jupiter's moon Europa
• 4 Things are finally looking up for the Voyager 1 interstellar spacecraft
• 5 Double cicada bloom 2024: Google Doodle celebrates once-in-221-year event with band of bugs
• 2 How people without 'inner voices' could help reveal the mysteries of consciousness
• 3 Secrets of radioactive 'promethium' — a rare earth element with mysterious applications — uncovered after 80-year search
• 4 Auroras could paint Earth's skies again in early June. Here are the key nights to watch for.
• 5 World's 1st carved horse: The 35,000-year-old ivory figurine from Vogelherd cave

Advertisement

Environment

Cleaner ship emissions may warm the planet far faster than expected.

A 2020 rule that slashed air pollution from ships may have boosted global temperatures sooner than thought, helping to explain why 2023 was so hot

By James Dinneen

30 May 2024

A 2020 rule put limits on harmful sulphur dioxide pollution in shipping emissions

Robert McGouey / Industry / Alamy

A sharp drop in sulphur dioxide emissions from ships since 2020 may warm the planet more than expected this decade, although researchers disagree on the magnitude of this change in temperature.

“If our calculation is right, that would suggest this decade will be really warm,” says Tianle Yuan at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Combined with background warming due to rising greenhouse gas concentrations, the added heat could mean 2023’s record-breaking temperatures will be the “norm” in coming years, he says. Yuan compared the sudden rise in temperature to the “termination shock” that might occur if a solar geoengineering project to curb warming were to suddenly end without a corresponding decline in greenhouse gas emissions.

Is climate change accelerating and is it worse than we expected?

However, other climate researchers say there are issues with the new numbers. “This is a timely study, but it makes very bold statements about temperature changes and geoengineering which seem difficult to justify on the basis of the evidence,” says Laura Wilcox at the University of Reading in the UK.

The study adds to an ongoing debate among climate scientists about the consequences of an International Maritime Organization (IMO) rule that slashed the amount of sulphur dioxide pollution in shipping emissions after 2020. That added air pollution from burning heavy marine fuel was linked to tens of thousands of deaths each year.

However, those aerosols also had a cooling effect on the climate by reflecting solar radiation directly as well as through their brightening influence on clouds over the ocean. Researchers expected that slashing those emissions would result in some warming due to the loss of sulphur dioxide’s cooling effects. But the magnitude of anticipated warming ranged widely.

Sign up to our Fix the Planet newsletter

Get a dose of climate optimism delivered straight to your inbox every month.

Yuan and his colleagues have now estimated the warming effect of the 2020 rule using satellite observations of cloud conditions, along with mathematical models of how clouds might change in response to the expected reduction in sulphur aerosols.

The researchers calculate the drop increased the amount of solar energy heating the oceans by between 0.1 and 0.3 watts per square metre, around double that of some earlier estimates. This effect was more acute in areas of the ocean with lots of shipping activity: the North Atlantic, which has been anomalously hot since last year , experienced a warming influence more than triple the average, according to the study.

The researchers then calculated how this warming influence, known as “radiative forcing”, would change global temperatures, using a simplified climate model that leaves out the influence of the deep ocean. They found the 2020 change translated to an additional rise of about 0.16°C in global average temperatures in the seven years after emissions dropped, effectively doubling the rate of warming during that period compared with previous decades.

“This forcing is not a greenhouse gas forcing. It’s a shock,” says Yuan. “So it’s going to be a blip in the temperature record for this decade.”

Something strange is happening in the Pacific and we must find out why

The new numbers are on the high end, but are in line with estimates using other methods, says Michael Diamond at Florida State University. The modelled results match those from a study that directly measured the change in clouds after 2020 in one region of the Atlantic Ocean, for instance.

However, other researchers dispute how the team calculated the resulting change in global temperatures. Zeke Hausfather at Berkeley Earth, a climate think tank, says the researchers conflated warming influence over the oceans with warming over the entire planet, and that their simplified climate model found a more rapid temperature rise than would occur in reality. “It’s really hard to justify more than 0.1°C warming in the near term using modern climate models,” says Hausfather.

If the new estimates prove accurate, however, it could help explain some of the huge jump in temperatures seen over the past year. Rising concentrations of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels and a shift to El Niño conditions were responsible for most of the heat, but a still unexplained gap has fuelled discussion about whether climate change may be accelerating.

“[The change in shipping emissions] goes some way towards closing the gap that we perceive,” says Gavin Schmidt at NASA. But “it’s not the whole story”.

Journal reference

Communications Earth and Environment DOI: 10.1038/s43247-024-01442-3

• climate change /
• atmosphere /
• air pollution

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox! We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

More from New Scientist

Explore the latest news, articles and features

Don't be fooled by El Niño's end – net zero is more urgent than ever

Is north america set for another bad wildfire smoke season, three years of high temperatures will mean we have breached 1.5°c.

Subscriber-only

El Niño is ending after a year of driving extreme weather

Popular articles.

Trending New Scientist articles

Defunct 1950s-era cruise ship takes on water and leaks pollutants in California river delta

• Show more sharing options
• Copy Link URL Copied!

A containment boom has been placed around a defunct 1950s-era cruise ship that began sinking and leaking pollution in California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, authorities said.

The 294-foot (90-meter) ship permanently moored in Little Potato Slough northwest of the city of Stockton began to sink in 13 feet (4 meters) of water on Wednesday, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a statement.

A sheen was observed on the water, and containment booms were deployed around the vessel and the city’s water intake pump station, the Coast Guard said. Photographs show the stern low in the water next to the slough’s grassy embankment.

It was not immediately clear what was leaking. The Coast Guard said the vessel recently changed ownership, so details about what pollutants were on board were unknown. The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office said the ship was leaking diesel fuel and oil.

A wildlife care organization was notified, but no oiled wildlife had been observed, the Coast Guard said.

The ship, currently known as the MV Aurora, was built in Germany in 1955 and formerly named Wappen von Hamburg. The ship moved around the world and ended up in the delta when a California man bought it in 2008 with dreams of restoring it as a shoreline attraction.

Get Essential San Diego, weekday mornings

Get top headlines from the Union-Tribune in your inbox weekday mornings, including top news, local, sports, business, entertainment and opinion.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the San Diego Union-Tribune.

More in this section

Illinois House speaker’s staff sues to unionize

Staff members working for the Illinois House speaker have filed a lawsuit demanding the right to negotiate working conditions as a union

Planned Parenthood sought a building permit. Then a California city changed zoning rules

The fight over abortion is happening in statehouses around the country, but has shifted in California to local battlegrounds

May 31, 2024

University of California, Santa Cruz, reports ‘many’ arrests at pro-Palestinian demonstration

Police arrest 80 at Israel-Hamas war protest at UC Santa Cruz, school says

A spokesperson for the University of California, Santa Cruz, says approximately 80 people have been arrested at a pro-Palestinian demonstration that has been blocking the main campus entrance for days

California governor criticized for proposal to eliminate health benefit for some disabled immigrants

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is facing criticism for his proposal to eliminate an optional Medicaid benefit for some disabled immigrants

Judge denies petition to recall death sentence of man who killed 12-year-old Polly Klaas

A California judge has denied a petition to recall the death sentence of a man convicted in the 1993 kidnapping and killing of 12-year-old Polly Klaas in a case that shocked the nation

• My View My View
• Following Following
• Saved Saved

Growing armada shipping sanctioned oil burns dirty fuel in a setback for clean-up efforts

• Medium Text

NO 'SCRUBBERS'

Russian, iranian fuel supplies.

Sign up here.

Reporting by Jonathan Saul; Editing by Simon Webb and Tomasz Janowski

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. New Tab , opens new tab

Sustainability Chevron

Live Nation probing Ticketmaster hack amid user data leak concerns

Live Nation Entertainment said on Friday it was investigating a data breach at its Ticketmaster unit that it discovered on May 20, the latest in a string of high-profile corporate hacks in the past year.