Carnival Corporation welcomed prominent government officials and regulatory representatives from Barbados aboard P&O Cruises’ Britannia for an in-depth information session and ship tour showcasing its environmental sustainability efforts.

 As one of Carnival Corporation’s cruise lines, P&O Cruises provided insight into the fleet’s ongoing initiatives to minimise environmental impact and support the preservation of Barbados’ marine ecosystems while maintaining regional operations.

Sander Groothuis, vice president of marine and port operations at Carnival UK, delivered a comprehensive overview of P&O Cruises’ home port operations in Barbados.

His presentation detailed the coordination between the cruise port and the airport to support efficient logistics. Additionally, Michele Andjel, vice president of public relations, spotlighted Carnival Corporation’s major environmental milestones, including:

• Progressing toward a goal of achieving a 20 per cent reduction in carbon intensity by the end of 2026 compared to 2019,
• Providing shore power connection capability for over 60 per cent of the fleet,
• Cutting single-use plastic items by 50 per cent compared to 2018,
• Reducing food waste per person by 30 per cent compared to 2019.

Following the session, attendees participated in a hands-on tour of Britannia’s environmental systems. Highlights included a walk-through of the ship’s bridge, where officials were introduced to the OneOcean platform – an advanced environmental advisory system implemented across the Carnival Corporation fleet.

This platform ensures compliance with international and country-specific environmental regulations based on each ship’s route.

The tour continued with an in-depth look at Britannia’s waste management practices, led by Environmental Officer Douglas Lauder. The walk-through demonstrated the onboard sorting and processing of recyclables. Chief engineer Glenn Milligan further explained the ship’s exhaust gas cleaning system (EGCS), also known as scrubbers, which reduce sulfur oxides from engine exhaust emissions. Attendees learned about the crucial role of the dedicated first engineer who oversees this critical system. He also shared that the ship produces over 80 per cent of the water consumed onboard from sea water.

Throughout the visit, Barbados government officials expressed keen interest in sustainability practices demonstrated on Britannia. The focus on exhaust emission technology, waste management systems, and environmental compliance innovation underscores Carnival Corporation’s commitment to responsible operations. The company continues to work closely with Barbados’ regulatory bodies to ensure its contributions align with the island’s conservation goals.

P&O Cruises also took this opportunity to highlight some of the initiatives to engage the communities in Barbados, namely their relationship with St. Mary’s Primary School, Walkers Reserve, and the National Cultural Foundation.

As part of the partnership with the National Cultural Foundation, several of Barbados’ best chefs will be hosted on Britannia and Arvia each weekend throughout the season, offering guests an authentic and delicious island dining experience, showcasing the finest dishes and ingredients from Barbados.