Carnival to spend $400 million to cut cruise ship pollution

To meet caps on air emissions, Carnival Corp. has announced plans to spend $400 million to install technology to reduce pollution generated by its cruise ships.

Miami-based Carnival, the world’s largest cruise company, announced Thursday that it will use the money to add exhaust-cleaning “scrubbers” to a total of 70 ships in its worldwide fleet of 101 ships.

Carnival had announced plans last year to install the scrubbers on 32 ships to meet pollution restrictions called for by the Environmental Protection Agency and the International Maritime Organization.

“Carnival Corp. has agreed to develop and deploy a new type of exhaust gas cleaning system for ships, one that provides the potential to exceed the fuel sulfur standard ECA [emission control area] requirements, as well as provide additional benefits in the reduction of particulate matter and black carbon, at a lower cost than using lower sulfur fuel,” the EPA said in a statement.

The IMO will lower its emission caps even further next year, prompting Carnival to install scrubbers on a total of 70.

Carnival said it hopes to have the new technology installed in all 70 ships within the next three years. The improvements will be made to 22 Carnival Cruise Lines ships, nine Holland America Line ships, seven Princess Cruises ships, three Cunard vessels and dozens of others in European cruise lines on AIDA Cruises and Costa Cruises.

“This is a key step forward for Carnival Corp. and its 10 brands -- and most importantly for the environment,” said Carnival Corp chief executive Arnold Donald.