ONE hour agoImage source, Tribune News Service via Getty ImagesImage caption, The Icon of the Seas, a 20-deck giant, is preparing to depart on its inaugural trip from Miami, Florida. There are concerns about the ship’s methane emissions on the horizon. The 365m-long (1,197 ft) vessel is capable of accommodating a maximum of 7,600 passengers and is owned by Royal Caribbean Group. The ship will embark on a seven-day island-hopping journey in the tropics.However, there are worries among environmentalists about the potential harmful methane emissions from the liquefied natural gas-powered ship.”It’s a step in the wrong direction,” stated Bryan Comer, director of the Marine Programme at the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), as reported by Reuters news agency. “We would estimate that using LNG as a marine fuel emits over 120% more life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions than marine gas oil,” he added.LNG is cleaner burning than traditional marine fuels like fuel oil, but there is a risk of leakage.Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, trapping 80 times more heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide over 20 years. Reducing these emissions is crucial in the fight against global warming. According to a Royal Caribbean spokesperson quoted by media outlets, Icon of the Seas exceeds the International Maritime Organization’s requirements for modern ships by being 24% more energy efficient. The company aims to introduce a net-zero ship by 2035.On Thursday, Lionel Messi, Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain who currently plays for Inter Miami, participated in the ship’s naming ceremony. He was seen placing a football on a specially-built stand to trigger the traditional “good luck” breaking of a champagne bottle against the vessel’s bow.The construction cost of the Icon of the Seas was $2bn (£1.6bn), and it now features seven swimming pools, six waterslides, and more than 40 restaurants, bars, and lounges.
