Royal Caribbean becomes latest player in maritime methane abatement initiative

Florida-based cruise holding company Royal Caribbean Group has become the latest member of Methane Abatement in Maritime Innovation Initiative (MAMII), a cross-sectoral effort aimed at eliminating methane emissions in shipping.

Royal Caribbean was added to MAMII’s roster in the early days of March 2025, bringing the total number of companies from the maritime transportation and energy-related sectors that have joined the initiative to twenty-two, according to MAMII.

Launched in 2022 and led by the UK-based classification society Lloyd Register’s (LR) SafetyTech Accelerator, MAMII reportedly aims to bring industry stakeholders together to develop technologies that monitor, measure and mitigate methane emissions from vessels powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), the number of which has been on a steady upward trajectory.

Among MAMII’s members are Japan’s Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), France’s CMA CGM, Switzerland’s Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), as well as GTT, Carnival Corporation & plc, Total Energies, Seaspan Corporation, and others.

Speaking about the recent event, Palle Laursen, Executive Vice President and Head of Marine, Royal Caribbean Group, shared: “We are excited to join industry leaders and collaborate on the MAMII initiative, which we believe will play a critical role in information sharing and tool development needed to manage methane emissions.”

“Methane abatement is an urgent challenge as we work to reduce the maritime sector’s environmental impact. With Royal Caribbean Group on board, we gain a partner that shares our determination to drive innovation and collaboration in addressing this critical issue,” Steve Price, Programme Director at Safetytech Accelerator, highlighted.

Methane slip, which is unburnt methane released during the combustion process, remains the largest source of methane emissions on ships.

Emissions across the LNG supply chain, however, from loading to engine delivery, are a cause to worry. Though often unintended and short-lived, these fugitive emissions can act as a wrench in the gears of the maritime industry’s decarbonization goals, unless identified, quantified and minimized.

In August 2024, industry coalition SEA-LNG suggested that “significant progress” has so far been made in eradicating the methane slip, sharing that two-stroke diesel cycle engines—accounting for roughly 75% of the LNG-fueled order book at the time the analysis was published—had ‘effectively eliminated slip already.’

Concerning fugitive emissions, in January 2025, Skytech Accelerator—together with industry majors Chevron, Carnival Corporation, Shell, and Seapeak—wrapped up three technology feasibility studies as part of MAMII’s projects.

As explained, MAMII is considering options to push these endeavors on to on-ship trials ‘as soon as possible.’