Tourexpi
Cruise and Shipbuilding Industries in Focus at TUI Brussels Policy Breakfast
The
event brought together EU policymakers, cruise and shipbuilding leaders, and
regional stakeholders to discuss how Europe’s maritime industries can drive
decarbonisation, economic resilience, and industrial innovation.
Cruises
as Drivers of Industrial Competitiveness
Europe
builds 97% of the world’s cruise ships and supports over 400,000 jobs in
advanced industrial ecosystems. Dr Reinhard Lüken, Managing Director of the
German Shipyards Association, noted:
“Cruise
ships are floating cities of the future—technological flagships that maintain
Europe’s global shipbuilding edge.”
However,
Dr Lüken warned that cruise ships alone cannot sustain the full industrial
value chain. Broader diversification in ship types is essential to maintain
Europe's leading role.
TUI
Cruises CEO Wybcke Meier added:
“Every
cruise ship built in Europe strengthens local supply chains and environmental
innovation. To ensure the green transition is viable, production of
low-emission fuels must be significantly scaled.”
Green
Technology and Smart Regulation
TUI
aims to cut cruise emissions by 27.5% by 2030, deploying shore power,
retrofits, and alternative fuels like bio-LNG and green methanol. Mein Schiff 7,
built in Finland, is the world’s first methanol-ready cruise ship.
Yet
port infrastructure lags behind. Despite a 38% increase in shore power usage,
many terminals remain unequipped. A new EU Port Strategy is expected to address
this gap. Speakers also urged that revenues from the EU Emissions Trading
System (ETS) be reinvested into green maritime technologies.
MEP
Jens Gieseke highlighted the role of the Net Zero Industry Act in unlocking
funding and scaling alternative fuel production across Europe.
Regional
and Economic Impact
Shipbuilding
is a job engine with strong local ties. Gieseke cited Meyer Werft in Lower
Saxony as a regional anchor. TUI Cruises alone contributes €53 million annually
to European port economies—excluding guest spending. According to CLIA, cruise
passengers spend around €700 per person during a seven-day cruise, with more
than half returning for longer visits.
Momentum
from Rotterdam to Szczecin
The
breakfast follows recent political support, including the Szczecin Declaration,
adopted by 20 EU member states. The declaration calls on the EU to maintain its
shipbuilding base and regain leadership in ferries, shortsea vessels, and
floating technologies.
Commissioner
Apostolos Tzitzikostas recently summed up the shift:
“This
is not just about ships. It’s about innovation, regional development, and
Europe’s blue economy.”
TUI’s
Call to Action
As
the EU advances its Oceans Pact, STIP, and the Draghi Competitiveness Roadmap,
TUI urges stronger alignment to secure Europe’s leadership in green, high-value
shipbuilding. The industry is ready—with the ships, the skills, and the
strategy. Now it needs the support to match.
Image Credit: © TUI Group
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