Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) has partnered with Miami-Dade County to make its new Miami Cruise Terminal B and certain homeported vessels ‘Shore-Power Ready’ by autumn 2023.
The new facility, dubbed Pearl of Miami, can accommodate cruise vessels carrying up to 5,000 pax. The terminal was designed with sustainability at the forefront and was constructed to LEED Gold standards for optimising energy, water efficiency, air quality, and utilisation of local materials and resources.
In addition, around 90% of all sub-contractors, vendors and suppliers were local to the region, reducing the carbon footprint of the project and encouraging local economic growth.
The new terminal will be equipped to serve Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ shore-power capable vessels.
This announcement follows NCLH’s recent launch of its redesigned global sustainability programme, Sail & Sustain.
As part of this programme, the cruise company also recently unveiled its long-term climate action strategy and goal to reach carbon neutrality through reducing carbon intensity, identifying and investing in technology including exploring alternative fuels and implementing a voluntary carbon offset programme.
In addition, the company is purchasing high quality, verified carbon credits to offset 3 mill tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e) and help bridge the gap in its de-carbonisation efforts until new technology becomes available.
“I am so proud that Norwegian is reiterating its commitment to our efforts to make PortMiami Shore-Power Ready by 2023,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor, Daniella Levine Cava (pictured). “The incredible work of the PortMiami team and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings will ensure that PortMiami is a leader in shaping a more sustainable cruise industry.
“We look forward to working with all partners to reduce emissions and make the cruise capital of the world more resilient, as part of our county’s aggressive efforts to cut our carbon footprint and mitigate the impacts of climate change,” she said.
“Climate action is one of the key focus areas of our global sustainability programme, Sail & Sustain, and partnering with Miami-Dade County to bring shore-power capabilities to our new state-of-the-art terminal at PortMiami aligns with our long-term climate action strategy,” added Frank Del Rio, NCLH President and CEO.
“We are committed to driving a positive impact on society and the environment as demonstrated by not only this partnership to bring shore-power to the cruise capital of the world but also the design of our newly developed, award-winning cruise terminal at PortMiami which was constructed to LEED gold standards,” he added.
