Methodology and Emission Sources
Charting a Course Forward Low-Carbon fuels like Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) are recognized as one of the key elements that can help the expedition cruise industry, and the shipping industry more broadly, achieve its GHG emissions reduction goals in the short- to medium-term. This renewable fuel can reduce lifecycle GHG emissions by as much as 75–95% compared to conventional marine fuels. It also has the added benefits of limited impact on ship performance and reduced particulate emissions. There is a limited supply of low-carbon fuel in established and robust ports worldwide. Given the remote areas where our ships operate, availability of all fuels is inconsistent and affected by limited and logistically challenging supply. While low-carbon fuels offer a promising solution for reducing emissions, low-carbon fuel alone is not sufficient. To meet the IMO 2050 emissions reduction goals, new technological solutions, and substantial cooperation and investment are required. Quark Expeditions continues to investigate opportunities that increase efficiency. In May 2023, we successfully implemented a redesigned, more streamlined bulbous bow on Ultramarine , improving efficiency and reducing fuel consumption, and we continue to investigate technologies such as air lubrication and advanced routing software to optimize our operations.
Our carbon accounting encompasses a comprehensive range of activities, including direct emissions from our fleet and operations (Scope 1), indirect emissions from purchased electricity and energy (Scope 2), and other indirect emissions such as those from our supply chain, business travel, and waste management (Scope 3). By defining these boundaries clearly and reporting on our emissions within each, we ensure that all material sources of emissions are accounted for. Quark Expeditions follows the GHG Protocol’s guidance for quantifying greenhouse gas emissions, calculating the carbon footprint of operations and the total scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. For simplicity, Quark Expeditions uses emissions factors sourced from publicly available and reputable sources, such as the UK Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra). Emissions are converted to tonnes of carbon equivalent using global warming potentials for a 100-year time horizon. For our direct emissions, fuel consumption data from our ships, Zodiacs, and helicopters was measured directly onboard and multiplied by their applicable emission factor. Well-to-tank emissions factors for these fuels were also used to calculate the indirect upstream production emissions. Together, these make up 75% of our calculated GHG emissions.
Business travel consists of all flights, accom- modation, and other modes of transportation conducted by Quark Expeditions team members. For business travel that involves a method of transportation such as a flight, taxi ride, or ferry trip, the calculation process consists of deter- mining the distance traveled, frequency of travel, and mode of transport. For business travel that involved nights spent in accommodation, the emissions were calculated based on the number of rooms booked, the type of accommodation, and the geographical location of the stay. The process for calculating the emissions from charter flights, guest gateway accommodation, and other travel is the same as that for business travel. For meals, the type and number of meals were assumed based on a standard voyage, and an internal emissions factor from the 2023 Food Consumption Guide was used to calculate emissions. The analysis does not include transportation booked by guests to and from our voyages’ start and endpoints. While this is a factor, we do not book this transport for our guests and it is difficult to estimate what these emissions figures might be.
28 | For more information, contact Quark Expeditions at Sustainability@QuarkExpeditions.com
Polar Promise 2023 |
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