CLIA Announces Strong Line-Up for Cruise Week Europe in March

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the leading authority of the global cruise industry, has announced a strong line up of Government Ministers, cruise line CEOs, and
international institution representatives for Cruise Week Europe, which takes place from 12-14 March.

For the first time, CEOs of European shipyards will take part in a dialogue on the criticality of the cruise sector for European maritime technology and ship building. The Summit will also feature sessions on investment needs for the industry’s net zero ambitions, with insights from CLIA’s European Investment Plan, and debates on the importance of a resilient and competitive tourism sector.

Speakers for the European Summit include: Apostolos Tzitzikostas, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism; Maja Bakran Marcich, Deputy Director General DG MOVE; Maive Rute, Deputy Director General, DG GROW; Fotini Ioannidou, Director Waterborne Transport, DG MOVE; Christos Stylianides, Minister for Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Greece; H.E. Marina Hadjimanolis, Shipping Deputy Minister to the President of the Republic of Cyprus; Petri Peltonen, Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs and Employment, Finland; Heike Deggim, Director Marine Environment Division, International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

Samuel Maubanc, Director General, Europe, CLIA, said: “The strong participation and interest is a testament to the growing understanding of the significance of the cruise industry to European industrial innovation and maritime strategies. We look forward to exploring how the cruise industry can enhance the competitiveness, sustainability and resilience of Europe’s maritime manufacturing sector.”

The cruise industry is making concrete investments in sustainable energy solutions and building fuel flexibility into ships sailing today to be capable of transitioning to lower carbon energy in the future.

Other topics on the agenda will include deployment of sustainable maritime fuels, onshore power pricing, tourism management best practices and future skills, as well as industry talks on sustainable supply chain and innovation, as highlighted in CLIA’s ‘Made in Europe’ report on the industry’s European value chain.