Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest luxury cruise operator, emitted nearly ten times more sulphur oxide (SOX) around European coasts than all of the 260 million European cars in 2017, a new analysis by sustainable transport group Transport & Environment reveals.

Royal Caribbean Cruises, the world’s second largest, is second; four times worse than the European car fleet.

SOX emissions form sulphate (SO4) aerosols that increase human health risks and contribute to acidification in terrestrial and aquatic environments.

Faig Abbasov, shipping policy manager at T&E, said: “Luxury cruise ships are floating cities powered by some of the dirtiest fuel possible. Cities are rightly banning dirty diesel cars but they’re giving a free pass to cruise companies that spew out toxic fumes that do immeasurable harm both to those on board and on nearby shores. This is unacceptable.”

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