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Carnival on track to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 20%

Carnival on track to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 20%
Carnival Corp. & plc said it will meet its goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shipboard operations by 20%. The company has cut emissions by more than 19% since 2005 and is likely to exceed its 20% goal by 2015, according to Jim Van Langen, vp management systems for Carnival Corp.

Among other initiatives recounted in connection with Earth Day, as a part of Carnival's pollution reduction initiatives announced in September 2013, the company is working on exhaust gas cleaning technology to be installed on a number of ships. CFO David Bernstein recently said at least 20 vessels were expected to be retrofitted with scrubbers by year's end.

In addition, Carnival continues to voluntarily install advanced wastewater treatment systems, and to work on research and development for potential installations on new and existing ships. Almost half of the company's fleet—48 of 101 ships—has installed such systems.

Twenty percent of the Carnival fleet is equipped for shore power use, and several ships have partial plug-in installations that can be retrofitted to full installation if they are deployed on an itinerary where the port has the infrastructure and capacity for shore power connection.

In 2013, fuel consumption had decreased by more than 5% since 2007. There was an 18% increase in non-hazardous waste recycled from ships from 2011 to 2012.

All of Carnival's operating lines and ships are certified in accordance with ISO 14001, one of the world's leading environmental management system certifications.

In addition, AIDA Cruises will operate the world's first cruise ships with the innovative Mitsubishi Air Lubrication System, which reduces drag and saves propulsion power. MALS enables ships to glide on an air-bubble carpet, which is projected reduce operating power needs by 7%.

AIDA also recently teamed with Becker Marine Systems to develop an LNG hybrid barge, scheduled to begin operating in Hamburg this year, that will reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 80% and carbon dioxide emissions by 30%.

Carnival is member of several global and national organizations driving environmental and sustainability efforts. These include the Global Environmental Management Initiative, the Sustainable Shipping Initiative, the National Association for Environmental Management and the Marine Conservation Institute's sustainable seafood program (a project with Holland America Line).

In addition, the company actively participates in a number of environmental initiatives around the globe. Carnival UK, for instance, has created a partnership with the country's Science and Technology Facilities Council to launch an instrument on board Queen Mary 2 that monitors Sea Surface Temperature.

Carnival Cruise Lines and Holland America also have partnered with the University of Miami in a project with the International SeaKeepers Society.