Finnlines wins sustainable tourism award

Recognized for its sustainability efforts within maritime transport, Finnlines was recently honoured by Skål International. This global association of travel and tourism professionals is an Affiliate Member of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), whose mission is to promote responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.

The 2024 Skål Sustainable Tourism Awards were presented on 17 October, at the Opening Ceremony of the Skål World Congress in Izmir, Turkey. The Grimaldi Group company Finnlines won in the “Touristic Mobility” category, which recognized sustainable travel and innovation in mobility.

The judges’ assessment criteria included the applicants’ environmental, social and economic aspects. Finnlines’ candidacy was based on its new Superstar-class vessels, with sustainability prioritized throughout the design process, from technical construction to the selection of individual suppliers. In addition, Finnlines also received the “Skål Biosphere Sustainable Special Award”, which was assigned by Biosphere Tourism and the Responsible Tourism Institute.

When collecting the award on behalf of Finnlines, Environment and Sustainability Manager Johanna Luoma commented, “It’s truly rewarding to be recognized for our long-term and daily efforts. It has also been inspiring to connect with other committed professionals in this field, and I will be leaving the Congress with renewed motivation to further advance our sustainability initiatives.”

Finnlines is committed to providing services that are both economically sustainable and environmentally friendly. The company continuously reduces its environmental footprint and works in compliance with the International Maritime Organization’s target to reduce ships’ carbon intensity by 40% by 2030. Finnlines has already decreased its fleet’s carbon intensity by 32% compared to the 2008 baseline and is committed to a further annual reduction of 2%.

In 2023, Finnlines achieved a year-on-year reduction of fleet carbon intensity of nearly 8%. One big factor that contributed to this decrease was the introduction in autumn 2023 of the first Superstar class ro-pax vessel, Finnsirius. Like her sister ship Finncanopus, which entered service in early 2024, the Finnsirius is equipped with modern energy-saving technologies and a hybrid function with a shore power connection. Both vessels carry passengers and cargo between Finland, Åland and Sweden with a significantly lower carbon footprint per transport unit than the previous ships on the route.