Virgin Voyages has taken delivery of the carbon neutral cruise ship ‘Scarlet Lady’.
She arrived at Dover from Genoa and will homeport in Miami with calls at Liverpool and New York en route.
Virgin Voyages claimed an industry leading approach that had taken immediate action to address climate change. Not only is the fleet built to the latest energy efficiency standards but the company is also offsetting its direct climate change emissions through the purchase of carbon offsets.
This commitment makes the brand the first cruise line to become carbon neutral for its direct emissions footprint from its first day of commercial operations, Virgin claimed. The projects that will be supported by ‘Scarlet Lady’ will meet high-quality, internationally recognised verification standards, including The Gold Standard and the Verified Carbon Standard.
“It’s wonderful to welcome ‘Scarlet Lady’,” said Virgin Group Founder, Sir Richard Branson. “I’m so proud that as we start this exciting journey, we also bring to life Virgin Voyages’ commitment to preserving the ocean and the first of many steps towards a net zero carbon future.”
Virgin said that it had recognised that climate change is an urgent, global issue for every industry and business. Like others, the company’s long-term ambition is a net-zero carbon future.
This will require significant advancements in technology and infrastructure, and access to solutions that remain in development. And, Virgin Voyages said that it was committed to working with the industry to support the necessary research and development to advance carbon-free fuels and to scale commercially viable solutions.
“The ocean is our home, and we are on a mission to protect it. The single biggest threat facing our ocean is climate change, and we want to be part of the solution,” said Tom McAlpin, Virgin Voyages CEO and President. “We are committed to pioneering new technologies on board, and working with our industry peers to advance research and development for zero carbon fuels.”
Virgin Voyages is one of first cruise lines to use Climeon, a technology that utilises heat emanating from the ship’s engines to generate electricity, thereby decreasing the demand for fuel.
While the industry continues to improve on the journey for readily available and commercially viable solutions, purchasing high-quality carbon offsets allows the company to take immediate action, while also supporting a long-term strategy that secures a net-zero future for the cruise industry, Virgin said.
