Tapani Pulli
Deputy CEO
Meyer Turku Oy
Finland
The cruise ship industry has long
been associated with luxury, leisure and exploration. However, as the industry
has grown, so has its environmental footprint. Cruise ships are significant
consumers of fuel, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, and other
ecological impacts. As global awareness of environmental sustainability
increases, the cruise shipbuilding industry faces growing pressure to develop
more sustainable practices and technologies. In this text, I treat the
challenge from the perspective of Meyer Turku, the builder of the most complex
cruise ships in the world.
The main objectives allowing cruise shipbuilding to become more sustainable are related to the product, the ship itself: reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency, waste management and recycling, and minimization of marine pollution.
Such a complex set of
targets requires shared ambitions and a close cooperation of several parties:
shipyards, customers, partner networks, research institutes and schools,
municipalities etc.
Along the years, remarkable achievements have been made, mainly in the fields of alternative fuels and propulsion technologies, energy-efficient ship design, advanced wastewater treatment systems and smart ship technologies.
While significant progress has been made in developing more sustainable cruise ships, several challenges remain. The adoption of alternative fuels and propulsion technologies is challenged by the lack of infrastructure and the high costs associated with these technologies. Additionally, the transition to more sustainable practices requires significant investment from cruise lines, shipbuilders, and governments.
In its sustainability strategy, Meyer Turku commits to
- designing a buildable carbon neutral ship concept by 2025
- reaching carbon neutrality (for the shipyard’s own operations) by 2030
- setting a good example by practicing active local industrial responsibility
- pushing the network to being equally or even more
responsible
Meyer Turku’s ambitions are supported by the large research and development program NEcOLEAP launched in 2022. It aims at securing the competitiveness of the Finnish shipbuilding industry and high-level cruise ship expertise and know-how also in the future and is financed jointly by Business Finland, Meyer Turku and partners. Today, NEcOLEAP has over 25 projects supporting in different ways digitalization and the development of a climate-neutral ship. Among the largest projects are Canelis, MeyMod, NavisSpace, Silent Engine, NeCom, SusFlow, and Necoverse.
Meyer AVATAR is an umbrella project steering these various project results. AVATAR was established to develop and implement the future climate-neutral technologies and know-how needed in designing and building next generation vessels. AVATAR stands for both digitalizing our climate-neutral competence and implementing the emerging technologies to virtual environment. Through AVATAR, it is possible to gather a portfolio of climate-neutral technology concepts, ship concepts and a library of alternative materials and products. Behind it are heavy investments in RDI to better understand future needs and demands and to adapt to them.
Through AVATAR, it is possible to implement future technologies in the next ship concepts in the short term, and Meyer is currently building a comprehensive path from R&D results directly to ship applications. The development of climate-neutral ship design expertise requires a new kind of approach and cross-cutting cooperation of the entire organization, as well as the involvement of a wide ecosystem.
In the future, the Meyer AVATAR process will continue in its role of supporting the right timing of integration of emerging technologies. The tools and processes that assist us along our journey towards climate neutrality can also support us with other sustainability aspects and in creating climate positive products.
As the ships’ sustainability develops, so does that of the shipyard. Meyer Turku aims at being carbon neutral (for the shipyard’s own operations) by 2030. A big step towards this direction has already been taken: Meyer Turku has used only certified carbon neutral electricity since 2018. Starting from 2023, also all district heating used the shipyard has been carbon neutral. This makes Meyer Turku a global pioneer among shipyards of its magnitude and underscores Meyer Turku's unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship in the maritime industry.
Building a ship takes an entire village of partners. Implementing the green transition requires the true commitment of us all. I appeal to the whole maritime industry to take all measures to explore this inevitable challenge that at the same time is a great business opportunity.