Cruise ships in Southampton emit more than 14 tonnes of methane

Wednesday, June 21, 2023

The cruise ships in Southampton sees a methane emissions surge.  A U.K. port has seen a dramatic rise in methane emissions from cruise ships, a study has said.

The cruise and cargo vessels in Southampton produced more than 14 tonnes of the potent global warming gas in 2022, a 36-fold increase over three years, according to campaign group Transport & Environment (T&E).

It blamed the introduction of new ships using liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuels. The city’s main cruise firm Carnival Cruise said emissions had reduced since 2011.

The Southampton’s methane emissions ranked 15th in Europe, according to the report

T&E said the rise in methane was the “most worrying trend” in European cruise ship emissions. Its report said the UK’s first LNG-powered cruise ship, P&O’s Iona, produced as much methane in 2022 as 10,500 cows.

The group said the problem was caused by “methane slip” – the incomplete combustion of methane-based LNG fuels.

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