Cruise industry: Cleaner fuel could add $20 per passenger, per day to costs

mercedes · August 6, 2009

Would you pay an extra $15 to $20 per day to sail on a cruise ship that uses cleaner fuel?

That's how much the cruise industry says new emission rules set to take effect in North America in 2015 will cost it.

Industry spokesperson Michael Crye tells Seatrade Insider today that the North American Emission Control Area recently approved in principle by the International Maritime Organization is likely to cost cruise lines far more than the $7 per person, per day projected by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Proposed by the U.S. and Canadian governments, the new low-emission zone would cover a 200 nautical mile ring around the coast of the two countries. Cruise ships sailing within the zone would be required to use costlier but cleaner low-sulfur distillate fuel.

Crye tells Seatrade Insider the EPA's cost estimate ignores the law of supply and demand. The cost of the cleaner fuel will go up as cruise lines begin buying.

Cruise lines haven't said whether they would try to pass on the extra fuel cost to consumers.

GottaCruz · August 6, 2009

Thanks for the post , mercedes. I guess we wouldn't have a choice if we want to cruise. But then, that higher price would just become the new normal .

gemcrusier · August 6, 2009

I agree it would become the norm but why only cruise ships how about tankers they pollute just as much .

Shaunna · August 7, 2009

Without liking it if there is no choice obviously we would get used to it.

DebbieandJerry · August 7, 2009

The cost of "going green" is not cheap; but so well worth it in the long run.

dougfw · August 8, 2009

"Going Green" is the new "Hammer and Sickle" of the old Soveit system and of North Korea today. It's a way for socialists/communists to kill capitalism/freedom by using the disguise of "saving" the environment. Hopefully, people will start waking up to this unfortunate fact before special interest groups, who act like THEY own the world and the rest of us are intruders, kill freedom for us all.

This so-called "clean" fuel surcharge is another blatant example of their alarmist tactics in order to line some special interest groups/beaurocrats pockets off of those who actually work for a living and want a vacation.