5 Questions About Climate Action: The Climate-Neutral Cruise Ship

Liina Vahala, Project Manager at Meyer Turku, discusses the climate initiative.

1. Briefly describe your climate initiative

We are developing a climate-neutral cruise ship concept through extensive collaboration with various companies, universities, and research institutions. The innovative and sustainable technology solutions being developed in the NEcOLEAP program—which are groundbreaking even on a global scale—focus on energy and resource efficiency in shipbuilding, automation, robotics, and cybersecurity.

The goal is to finalize the climate-neutral cruise ship concept by 2025, after which Meyer Turku will be ready to proceed with the design and production of a climate-neutral ship. The leading company program seeks new, more sustainable materials and solutions, for example, for cabins, investigates ways to optimize the ship’s hull and steel structure to reduce fuel consumption, and designs more efficient waste management systems.

2. How will your actions reduce carbon dioxide emissions?

A ship’s emissions are primarily driven by its fuel consumption over its entire lifecycle. A climate-neutral cruise ship reduces these emissions because it can use low-carbon fuels of the future. Thanks to improved energy efficiency, the cruise ship will also consume less fuel than current models.

In the future, with the advent of low-emission fuel solutions, the cruise ship’s climate impact will be increasingly influenced by the carbon footprint of its construction. Therefore, it is essential to also address emissions from construction and materials by choosing low-emission and responsible alternatives and by improving the shipyard’s operating practices.

3. Why are you taking climate action, and why did you join the effort to make Turku carbon-neutral?

Meyer Turku is one of the world’s largest and most modern high-tech cruise shipbuilders. We build the world’s most modern and environmentally friendly cruise ships, car ferries, and specialty vessels. We account for approximately 15 percent of global cruise ship construction, and our order book extends through 2026.

The main objective of the NEcOLEAP program is to accelerate the shipyard’s business adaptation to the green transition and to meet climate change-related requirements in collaboration with ecosystem partners. We are exploring opportunities to adopt even more sustainable technologies that will also enable us to meet our customers’ strategic sustainability goals.

4. What is the potential for reducing carbon emissions in your industry, and by what means?

The potential for reducing emissions throughout a ship’s entire lifecycle is significant. Emissions are reduced through close collaboration with an extensive network and our customers. We examine opportunities ranging from emissions during construction to ship operations, as well as recycling options for end-of-life products.

5. What message would you like to convey to other industry players?

Ships and the shipbuilding industry are a major export for the Turku region and for Finland as a whole. A climate-neutral export, in turn, reduces Finland’s carbon footprint, extending the positive climate impacts to the global level. Let’s work together to make responsible tourism a reality!