Life cycle assessment of the environmental consequences of the premature recycling of cruise ships due to Covid-19

Abstract

Transportation industries such as airplanes, trains, and buses were able to resume operations during the pandemic. In the cruise industry, however, conditions for returning to work were more complex. As a result of the pandemic, the cruise tourism industry entered a period of economic difficulty and attempted to overcome it by borrowing heavily. Nonetheless, several companies decided to sell their existing ships to maintain their financial viability. Even though cruise ships sent for recycling via the Covid-19 process are expected to be recycled within 10 to 15 years, cruise ship recycling in recycling facilities has increased due to the epidemic. This study demonstrates the environmental impact calculation of cruise ships sent to Aliaga ship recycling facilities for disassembly before the end of their average service life under the Covid-19 effect using life cycle assessment (LCA). The results of the study demonstrated conclusively that the global environment had been affected by the transformation of the cruise industry as a result of the Covid-19 epidemic. The environmental effects of ships that must be sent for recycling after 10 to 15 years have to be experienced now.