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Committed to preserving the beauty of the world we explore for future generations, we take concrete action to:
• Reduce the environmental footprint of our operations in line with and beyond International
Maritime Organization and Cruise Lines International Association standards
• Protect the ecosystems through which we sail and conserve the integrity of the
natural and historical sites we visit
• Advance diversity, equity and inclusion
• Nurture health, science and creativity
• Join forces with partners who share our commitments so that we can all act more
effectively and efficiently to achieve our sustainability goals
The multiple interlinked policies, measures, actions and initiatives we have adopted extend across a complete spectrum of concerns, as you can see from the many related UN Sustainability Goals shown here. Because we care passionately about fostering discovery that “leaves nothing but footprints” and contributes to building a better world. So, although certain of the above areas are covered in more detail in other pages of the sustainability section of our website, they are all briefly referred to here, expressing an integrated vision of Responsible Cruising and our commitments to the beautiful planet we share.
The comprehensive, concrete measures we have taken to reduce the environmental footprint of our cruising operations include the following.
• We are fully compliant with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO)
MARPOL Convention on the prevention of pollution at sea and any more stringent local requirements.
• We also go beyond them in adopting all the additional voluntary standards of the
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), including in respect of grey water discharge.
• The above two combined cover all types of waste and emissions (solid waste,
water, air and chemicals etc.), reflected in on-board recycling, high energy efficiency solutions and
Advanced Wastewater Treatment systems.
• All Swan Hellenic ships feature Tier III diesel-electric generation with
Selective Catalytic Reduction units to reduce harmful emissions. These include a Urea Injection
System to reduce nitrogen dioxide emissions where required.
• The electric distribution plant of each ship is ready for a plug-in battery pack to
enable extensive stays in port emission free and cruising at reduced speed for several hours in noise- and
emission-free mode through wildlife sanctuaries, while also providing peak shaving for significant fuel
consumption reductions in normal operation.
• Dynamic positioning systems mean every Swan Hellenic ship can avoid dropping
anchor in fragile environments, preventing damage to delicate ecosystems.
• Ultra-low consumption LED lighting and intelligent climate control
systems are used throughout our fleet.
• Advanced potable water treatment systems purify, mineralise and carbonate
freshly-prepared pure drinking water, eliminating the need for bottled water.
• Water dispensers are provided throughout each ship for our guests’
convenience.
• The interior design of every Swan Hellenic ship prioritises
sustainability-certified natural, recycled and recyclable materials, together with low-solvent textiles
and surface coverings.
• Stateroom toiletries, including shampoo and body wash, are
provided in reusable dispenser units made of recycled plastic.
• All toiletries and soap products provided and used are free of
cocamide, EDTA, formaldehyde, parabens, silicone and colorants.
• All cleaning products used are Ecobal certified, fully biodegradable and made
from raw materials of natural origin.
• Single-use plastics are reduced to an unavoidable bare minimum on board. Swan
Hellenic makes every effort, working closely with supply chain partners, to continually reduce this still
further.
• We use paper straws and refillable glass water bottles in our guest
staterooms and refillable water carafes in our restaurants.
• Complimentary metal water bottles are provided for all guests to use on their
expeditions and excursions.
• Swan Hellenic has a paperless policy and where unavoidable aims to print on
recycled or forest-certified paper.
• This paperless policy is supported by providing comprehensive guest information
on our stateroom Smart TV system and Smartphone App.
• All onboard waste is recycled in accordance with the latest MARPOL
regulations.
• Stateroom sheets are changed every three days and towels every day except where
guests indicate they would prefer less frequent changes.
• Swan Hellenic uniform policy avoids all use of fleece fabrics, which
shed high volumes of microplastics when washed.
• All Swan Hellenic crews and staff follow strict procedures to
minimise our environmental footprint wherever we visit.
• All our sustainability commitments are aligned with the latest advances, which Swan
Hellenic monitors constantly to ensure a steadily reducing environmental footprint.
• We have an Officer with specific responsibility for environmental matters on
every ship in our fleet, both to ensure full compliance with all the above and to actively support
continuous improvement.
