CLIA Report Highlights Fleetwide Advances in Environmental Technologies

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has unveiled its 2025 Environmental Technologies and Practices (ETP) report, highlighting significant progress within the oceangoing cruise industry, represented by companies accounting for over 90% of global cruise capacity.

The report, as of August 2025, reveals that 45 ocean cruise lines operate 310 ships, offering a total of 637,847 lower berths, a slight decrease from 2024’s figures of 303 ships and 645,034 lower berths. Predictions indicate that the distribution of ship sizes will remain steady, with about one-third of CLIA’s fleet consisting of vessels with fewer than 1,000 lower berths, while those with 1,000 to 3,000 lower berths will still make up the majority. There will be a moderate increase in the number of large ships (3,000+ lower berths).

Notable advancements include the rise in multi-fuel capable engines allowing ships to switch between traditional marine fuels and zero-emission alternatives. The number of dual-fuel vessels has risen from one in 2018 to nineteen today, with projections of twenty-three by the end of 2025, and up to thirty-two by 2036, featuring capabilities for LNG and methanol use.

Furthermore, there has been a substantial increase in ships equipped with onshore power supply (OPS) capabilities, which enable engines to shut down while docked. The number of such ships has surged from fifty-five in 2018 to 166 in 2025, covering 58% of the fleet and 65% of passenger capacity, with expectations of over 270 ships utilizing OPS by 2036.

Environmental practices have also seen significant growth; advanced wastewater treatment systems now exceed MARPOL Annex IV requirements on many ships, and freshwater production onboard has become standard, reducing dependence on external sources.

CLIA’s leadership noted that cruise lines are investing tens of billions of dollars in new ships—over 80 vessels currently on order worldwide—focused on integrating environmental innovations like dual-fuel engines, advanced wastewater treatment systems, air lubrication technology, and OPS connectivity.

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