The less fuel we consume, the fewer emissions enter the air. The ideal ton of fuel is one that goes unused. Luckily, there is a simple formula we have been using for some time: by avoiding top speeds, we save an above-average amount of fuel. Four knots can save no less than 40 %. And guests can relax a little more as they enjoy the wonders along the route.
Careful route planning also helps to optimise fuel consumption. Wherever possible, we choose the shortest route between two destinations. Of course, we don’t want our guests to miss out on any highlights: our routes set standards and offer unique experiences and will continue to do so in future.
Beautifully untouched, the most remote corners of our world deserve particular protection. When cruising in the Arctic, Antarctic, Kamchatka, Greenland, Alaska and Hawaii, we therefore use low-pollutant marine gas oil and have been consistently foregoing heavy fuel oil in some cruising areas for more than 26 years – despite considerable additional costs and – in some areas - no legal requirements. A responsible attitude to the environment is one of our highest priorities, and so now we are going one step further: since July 2020, our entire fleet runs on low-sulphur marine gas oil with a sulphur content of 0.1 %.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) does not focus solely on protecting the oceans – it also aims to ensure a significant reduction in air pollution: by 2050 global CO₂ emissions by ships are to be reduced by at least 50 %. Strict limits are already in place in Emission Control Areas (ECAs) – a form of environmental zone – for the sulphur content of fuel and the emission of nitrogen oxides, for example. Since 2020, ship emissions both within and outside ECAs may have a maximum sulphur content of 0.5 %. This is significantly lower than the average of 3.5 % in conventional heavy fuel oil. In addition to this requirement, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises uses low-sulfur marine gas oil with a sulfur content of 0.1 percent for the entire ship fleet.
