5 Questions About Climate Action: A Carbon-Neutral Shipyard by 2030

The Climate Action in a Nutshell

• The goal is that by 2030, the world’s most magnificent cruise ships will set sail from Turku’s carbon-neutral shipyard.
• Significant emission reductions are achieved through material and fuel choices.
• The Energy Efficiency Agreement is accelerating investments in energy efficiency at the shipyard.

1. Briefly describe your climate action
Meyer Turku aims to become a carbon-neutral shipyard by 2030 (Scope 1 and 2). Several significant steps have already been taken to achieve this goal. The shipyard uses emission-neutral electricity and district heating. The furnaces used to heat ships during the construction phase have switched from fuel oil to HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil, i.e., hydrogen-treated vegetable oil for diesel engines).

Achieving carbon neutrality still requires further changes, the most significant of which concerns the fuel used by ships during sea trials, and work is ongoing in collaboration with trusted partners. A great deal of welding work is carried out during ship construction, which generates emissions. Efforts are being made to address these emissions by optimizing work methods and upgrading the welding gas network.

Meyer Turku joined the Energy Efficiency Agreement in January 2023, which will accelerate the shipyard’s focus on energy efficiency. Under the agreement, Meyer Turku aims to achieve a 7.5% reduction in energy consumption by the end of 2025.

2. How do your actions reduce carbon dioxide emissions?
The shipyard uses carbon-neutral electricity and district heating, which eliminate all Scope 2 emissions. The furnaces used to heat ships under construction have switched from fuel oil to HVO. This change reduces emissions from heating during ship construction by approximately 90 percent.

3. Why are you taking climate action, and why did you join the effort to make Turku carbon-neutral?
In line with our sustainability strategy, Meyer Turku aims to become a carbon-neutral shipyard by 2030. We want to set an example of responsible choices through our own concrete actions. We also want to be part of Turku’s climate team to achieve the shared goal of “Carbon-Neutral Turku 2029.”

4. What potential does your industry have to reduce carbon emissions, and by what means?
In addition to our own operations, we also want to encourage our network of partners to make choices that are positive for the climate and the environment. By focusing on concrete actions—such as in our choices of materials and fuels—we can significantly reduce emissions in the shipbuilding industry.

5. What message do you want to send to other industry players?
The world’s most magnificent and advanced cruise ships set sail from Turku. Our goal is that by 2030, the world’s most magnificent cruise ships will set sail from a carbon-neutral shipyard. Let’s work together to make the Turku region a world-class example of how to build a sustainable future.