The Port of Barcelona has set out its commitment to sustainability the environment and innovation as it works to further develop its cruise activity.
A delegation from the port at Seatrade Cruise Global 2018 were keen to stress that although the Catalan port expects a record number of 800 cruise calls this year, it has been working hard to de-seasonalise the activity and cater for the next generation of “environmentally-friendly” cruise ships.
This year the Port of Barcelona will receive ten cruise ships on their first call to the city: Symphony of the Seas, Carnival Horizon, Seabourn Ovation, MSC Seaview, Viking Spirit, Celestyal Olympia, Sapphire Princess, TUI Explorer, Celebrity Eclipse and Le Laperouse.
High-efficiency terminal
This spring, Carnival Corporation, the world's leading cruise group, will inaugurate the new 12,000 square metre Terminal E, one of the largest cruise terminals in Europe being built at a cost of €30 million.
The facility has been designed using high-efficiency and sustainability criteria and is prepared to cater for larger cruise vessels.
Barcelona’s Port is also working with the City Council to reorganise cruise infrastructure to be more sustainable.
The agreement, which relies on the 'Barcelona model' of collaboration between administrations, the private sector, local stakeholders and Barcelona airport, envisages progressively withdrawing cruise activity from the North and South terminals, which are closest to the city, to concentrate all cruise operations on the Adossat Wharf.
This wharf, which currently has five terminals (including Terminal E), can accommodate up to seven terminals on the same berthing line.
The port is also pushing forward concrete initiatives aimed at facilitating sustainable growth of the sector with its Air Quality Improvement Plan and by promoting efficient management of cruise passenger mobility.
It has made a firm commitment to using LNG which fits neatly in line with the build of 13 LNG powered cruise ships currently under construction.
The port is working to equip itself with all the necessary infrastructures and facilities for supplying LNG and is currently performing pilot projects to demonstrate and promote the viability of LNG as a fuel for mobility.
source: GreenPort
