Icon of the Seas, the biggest cruise ship in the world, sailed on its inaugural journey from Miami, Florida, but methane emissions from the ship have raised concerns.
There are 20 decks on the 365-meter (1,197-foot) Icon of the Seas, which can accommodate up to 7,600 guests. The Royal Caribbean Group is the owner. The ship is leaving on a seven-day Caribbean island-hopping excursion.
Environmentalists fear that the ship fuelled by liquefied natural gas (LNG) may release airborne methane, which is dangerous.
The ship, registered in the Bahamas, features six water slides and seven swimming pools. It was built at a shipyard in Turku, Finland.
It was constructed for $2 billion (£1.6 billion) and has over 40 eateries, lounges, and bars.
LNG has a higher burning efficiency than conventional maritime fuels like fuel oil, but there is a chance that part of the gas may leak and release methane into the atmosphere.
Compared to carbon dioxide, methane is a far more potent greenhouse gas.
According to Bryan Comer, who oversees the Marine Programme at the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), “it’s a step in the wrong direction,” as reported by the Reuters news agency.
“We would estimate that using LNG as a marine fuel emits over 120% more life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions than marine gas oil,” he stated.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that, over 20 years, traps 80 times more heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. Reducing these emissions is thought to be essential for reducing global warming.
According to Royal Caribbean, the Icon of the Seas has a 24% higher energy efficiency than what the International Maritime Organization mandates for contemporary vessels. By 2035, the business intends to launch a net-zero ship.
Lionel Messi, the captain of Argentina who won the World Cup and is currently a player for Inter Miami, participated in the ship’s naming ceremony on Thursday. He was observed setting a football on a specially designed stand, which set off the custom of breaking a champagne bottle against the bow of the ship in a “good luck” gesture.
