The revolutionary cruise ship Captain Arctic reduces emissions drastically!

On January 7, 2025, the Selar company presented its first ship, the "Captain Arctic". The new expedition ship promises to reduce CO2 emissions by 90 % compared to other cruise ships. The ship laying the ship took place on November 22nd in Dubai, the delivery is planned for 2026.

The "Captain Arctic" offers space for 24 crew members and 36 passengers and is described as the first expedition ship in the area of luxury cruise. The first expeditions to the Arctic have already been marketed. To generate energy, the ship uses five 35 meter high wind sails and an area of 2,000 m² with solar cells. In her speech, Selar CEO Sophie Galvagnon emphasized the investments in sustainable tourism and the preservation of the natural miracle. The CEO of Goldens, Sandeep Seth, emphasized the innovation and the cooperation on which this project is based.

sustainable development in the cruise industry

The discussion about the emissions of cruise ships is of great relevance. According to a report by Cruisricks.de, the CO2 footprints of cruises vary strongly, depending on the ship and trip. Emissions of cruise ships can be compared to those of long-haul flights, and the calculation of the personal CO2 footprint for cruises is complex. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) determined 1,076 million tons of civil shipping in 2018, which corresponds to about 2.89 % of global emissions.

Despite the fact that cruise ships only make up 0.5 % of the global number of ships, they cause 3.1 % of shipping emissions. Emissions from large cruise companies were determined for 2023, including Carnival Corp. With 9,648,000 T CO2E and Royal Caribbean Group with 5,375,318 t CO2E. The personal CO2 footprint of a cruise is around 800 kg per passenger for a seven-day trip.

Newer ships, such as the "Captain Arctic", usually have a lower CO2 footprint than older. Tips for climate -friendly cruises include arrival by train or bus instead of aircraft as well as the selection of modern ships with a high passenger density and long harbor lounger.