The conclusions of this study, promoted by the International Cruise Lines Association (CLIA), in partnership with the Spanish University of Rovira i Virgili, in Tarragona, were released in a statement by the Administration of the Port of Lisbon (APL).

“The analysis reveals that pollution concentration levels in the Portuguese capital are not significantly influenced by cruise activity, but rather by other factors, such as other modes of transport or residential sources”, reads the APL note.

The study, carried out between September 2022 and September this year, analysed the levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter (PM10).

“According to the data analysed, any contribution of cruise ships to the increase in local levels of various air pollutants, such as SO2 and PM10, is very limited. In terms of the amount of carbon monoxide and ozone in local air quality, the impact of cruise activity appears to be insignificant”, highlights the APL.

Despite these positive conclusions, the president of APL's board of directors, Carlos Correia, mentioned in the note, emphasises that the company will “continue working to improve the sustainability of the activity”.

“Issues of environmental sustainability are strategic for decision-making and, for this reason, the Port of Lisbon has a set of ongoing actions, such as the supply of energy on land, monitoring of air and water quality in the surrounding areas of the Lisbon Cruise Terminal and the implementation of a system for evaluating and monitoring the emission rates of cruise ships during their stopover”, he indicated.