GREEN CRUISE PORT

In the Interreg project Green Cruise Ports, eight major cruise ports at the Baltic Sea lifted sustainability up on their agenda and committed themselves to decoupling growth from negative environmental impact of port and vessel operations; they jointly established an action plan for more sustainable investments over the next ten years.

The opportunity

The cruise shipping sector in the Baltic Sea region has grown enormously in the last decade. From 2001 to 2013 cruise ship calls (visits by a cruise ship at a port) grew by a total of 59 % (1,601 to 2,552), and passenger visits increased by over 260 % (1.2 million to 4.4 million). Cruise tourism is expected to continue growing in the Baltic Sea region. Meeting the fast growing demand and the associated environmental requirements in the cruise sector in a strategic, sustainable manner is necessary. Because the “cruise product” is transnational by its nature, only a joint planning process of ports in the region will have lasting results.

Budgets

GREEN CRUISE PORT
in numbers

2.76

Million

Total
1.93

Million

Erdf
0.00

Million

Eni + Russia
0.15

Million

Norway

Achievements

Eight ports and two cruise lines explore green solutions together

In the project, the port authorities of eight large cruise ports in the Baltic Sea region joined forces, namely Hamburg (Germany), Rostock (Germany), Klaipeda (Lithuania), Riga (Latvia), Tallinn (Estonia), Helsinki (Finland), Bergen (Norway) and Esbjerg (Denmark) for an ambitious approach towards green cruise ports. The port authority RosMorPort which operates the ports of St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad (Russia) contributed as well. Together with the cruise lines AIDA and TUI as well as researchers from the Maritime Institute in Gdansk they looked into smart solutions for greener cruise ports in terms of sustainable energy supply and innovative emission reduction, cruise terminal buildings and innovative reception facilities and maritime and landside cruise terminal traffic links and published a series of thematic studies in each of those fields. A study on "Sustainable energetic solutions for the cruise terminal building in Northern climate" laid the fundament for an engineer-layout of a smart cruise terminal building at the Port of Tallinn. The new terminal was built 2019.

A common vision and an action plan for green cruise tourism by 2030

To bring all the experience and ambitions together, the ports established a joint vision: To decouple growth in the Baltic Sea region cruise port industry from negative sustainability, and especially environmental impacts that result from port and vessel operations. In order to pursue this vision, the ports and cruise lines developed a Green Cruise Port Action Plan 2030 with specific goals for its realization. The Action Plan serves as an important tool and source of reference for ports, cruise lines, policy and others striving for a high level of sustainability. In 2017, the Baltic Sea Forum awarded the project the Baltic Sea Clean Maritime Award in the category “Infrastructure”. EUR 1.93 million of support from the European Union were used to initiate change in the cruise industry towards a green, low-carbon Europe in the Interreg project Green Cruise Ports.

Outputs

Green Cruise Port Action Plan 2030

The Action Plan sets up an overarching sustainability vision for the cruise tourism industry together with specific goals for its realisation. The Action Plan provides concrete and practical information on how to reduce negative ecological and social impacts of cruise port operations. Consequently, the Action Plan serves as an important tool and source of reference for the project partners and all others striving for a high level of sustainability. All measures in the Action Plan have been evaluated on the basis of two main criteria - impact on sustainability and efforts for implementation.

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Report: Onshore power supply for cruise vessels

The report sums up the opportunities and limitations for connecting cruise vessels to onshore power drawing upon a thorough analysis of the ports of Hamburg (Germany), Rostock (Germany), Tallinn (Estonia), Helsinki (Finland), and Bergen (Norway). Onshore power for vessels while in ports is one possible technology to avoid air and noise pollution from cruise vessels in cities. The report looks at the costs and benefits for vessel operators and ports related to establishment of onshore power supply. Based on the findings of this report, Green Cruise Ports partners can provide information to governments and local authorities on how to reduce barriers to onshore power for vessels.

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Study: Common standards in the measurement of economic effects by cruise tourism

Despite the importance that cruise tourism gained in recent years, there are still few studies that attempt to quantify its economic impact. This study elaborated by Green Cruise Port project looks into the economic impact of cruise tourism, in particular at the regional and local levels. Providing data about the impacts of cruise tourism at cruise port locations gives stakeholders a possibility to compare the economic effects of cruise tourism in different cruise port locations. This enables them to make sound investment decisions for in cruise port infrastructure.

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Technical study: Sustainable energetic solutions for the cruise terminal building in Northern climate

The purpose of this study is to analyze the possibility of employing sustainable solutions at the cruise terminal built by Port of Tallinn. The study defines criteria for designing a sustainable terminal which are applicable to other plans for cruise terminal buildings. It describes technical solutions, e.g. for heating, cooling, automation, lighting etc.

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Project Stories

01.04.2019

Greener cruising across the Baltic Sea

Cruise shipping in the Baltic Sea region has grown enormously. In 2018, the number of cruise guests visiting destinations at the Baltic Sea was almost five times higher than in 2000 and the boom is expected to last at least. More passengers means more jobs and growth for the port locations and their hinterland.
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