Expedition ship goes green

Cruise ships visiting the Antarctic already have to abide by strict regulations governing the number of passengers they can take ashore, and the fuel they must burn to avoid polluting the wilderness region. Now a cruise line has declared for the first time that one of its ships will effectively be carbon neutral.
Passengers travelling on Ocean Diamond (above) in search of penguins, seals and whales can do so with a clear conscience because operator Quark Expeditions will be offsetting their carbon dioxide emissions by supporting reforestation and hydro and wind-power projects in Turkey, Kenya, China and India.
Diamond, carrying 189 passengers, is a newcomer to the Quark fleet – it previously sailed as Le Diamant for French operator Compagnie du Ponant and was originally built as Song of Flower for Radisson Seven Seas Cruises. The ship is diesel-powered and Quark plan to offset an estimated 5,682 tonnes of CO2 – equivalent to taking 1,114 cars off the road for a year.
Company founder and president Hans Lagerweij said: “Quark is committed to environmentally-responsible tourism. By operating the Ocean Diamond Antarctica voyages as carbon-neutral, we show it’s possible to visit incredible places and preserve them for future generations.
He added that Ocean Diamond’s average emissions per passenger are significantly lower than some Quark vessels, which have included powerful Russian-built icebreakers.
There are three Antarctic itineraries of between 10 and 20 days on board Ocean Diamond. The inaugural trip to the Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica departs from Ushuaia, Argentina on November 3, with fares from £6,060. There is also a 10-day Introduction to the White Continent (£2,500) and an 11-day Antarctic Explorer (£3,000).
In 2013, Quark will be operating Arctic expeditions to Spitsbergen, Greenland and Iceland aboard the 120-passenger Sea Spirit.