World's largest cruise ship 'Icon of the Seas' nears Completion, ignites debate over size and impact

Helsinki: The world's largest cruise ship, the Icon of the Seas, for Royal Caribbean, is nearing completion at Finland's Turku shipyard. While its size and engineering marvels attract attention, concerns over its ecological footprint are stirring debates.

It also comes at a time when the cruise industry is starting to rebound from the pandemic-induced slump.

Scheduled for its maiden voyage in January 2024, the Icon of the Seas is taking shape on Finland's southwestern coast. With more than 20 decks, vibrant waterparks, and the capacity to accommodate nearly 10,000 passengers, the vessel is undeniably impressive. One distinctive feature of this mammoth vessel is a massive glass dome that envelops a part of its front section.

Despite awe-inspiring engineering, debates rage about the ship's environmental impact and whether bigger is truly better. Amid a resurgence in cruise bookings, this project raises questions about sustainability, both from ecological and economic perspectives.

Tim Meyer, CEO of shipbuilder Meyer Turku, acknowledged the ship's grandeur but also recognised concerns about its climate footprint.

The cruise industry faced unprecedented challenges during the pandemic, but now, bookings are picking up. The Cruise Lines International Association forecasts that passenger numbers will surpass pre-pandemic levels this year, reaching 31.5 million passengers.

The Icon of the Seas, boasting a gross tonnage five times that of the Titanic, is set to snatch the title of the world's largest cruise ship.

While larger ships offer economic advantages through reduced costs per passenger, experts warn about potential overreliance on larger vessels. The push for mammoth ships has led to concerns about port overcrowding, reduced crew-to-passenger ratios, and challenges in evacuation procedures during emergencies. Critics also argue that these mega-ships can bring ecological and infrastructural challenges to popular cruise destinations.

Environmental concerns are another facet of this debate.

While larger ships might have a comparatively smaller emissions footprint per passenger, the increase in large vessels counters this potential advantage. Despite efforts to use greener fuels like liquified natural gas (LNG), concerns over methane leaks and their climate impact persist.

Constance Dijkstra, Shipping Campaigner at the NGO Transport & Environment (T&E), pointed out that while LNG might be considered a step towards eco-friendliness, methane leaks pose substantial problems. LNG contains methane, a potent greenhouse gas that can outweigh the benefits of reduced carbon emissions.