Crystal River Cruises’ four vessels have been awarded Green Award certification.
This certificate recognises ships that demonstrate exceptional safety and environmental standards. Green Award was set up in Rotterdam in 1994 to promote responsible environmental practices in deepsea vessels. Certification for inland shipping and river ships was introduced in 2011.
The awards are adjudicated by a panel of global maritime industry Green Award members, representing both public and private entities, who adhere to the foundation’s stringent evaluation protocols, the organisation explained
“The same exacting attention to detail that Crystal is famous for offering our guests has been applied to the design and operations of our ships. We understand and appreciate the fact that in order to continue to explore the great waterways of Europe and the world, we must help take care of them,” said Walter Littlejohn, Crystal River Cruises’ Vice President and Managing Director. “The Green Award certification is a wonderful affirmation that our efforts are making a difference in the communities and the world around us.”
Crystal’s newly built ships – ‘Crystal Bach’, ‘Crystal Debussy’, ‘Crystal Mahler’ and ‘Crystal Ravel’ – were introduced in 2017 and 2018, designed to meet the highest specifications for efficiency in operations, environmental protection and sustainability standards.
Each ship is fitted with a diesel-electric power plant, allowing fuel to be consumed more efficiently for propulsion and to generate electricity, In addition, an advanced wastewater treatment system is fitted on each vessel.
The ships’ Captains are specifically trained to minimise engine loads and fuel consumption by adjusting ships’ speeds and connecting to shore power when in port.
A comprehensive ‘Crystal Clean’ policy was introduced just after the company was formed. Spanning corporate and guest-facing areas alike. This policy includes the minimisation of plastic bottles and containers usage whenever possible, plus a fleet-wide ban on all plastic straws; the use of reusable cloth laundry and shoe-shine bags in all guest suites; sorting and recycling processes; and LED lighting throughout each ship.
