Marella Cruises, in partnership with Cleaner Seas Group, is set to roll out an industry-first initiative aimed at tackling microfibre pollution across its entire fleet by September 2025. The move follows a successful six-month trial on Marella Explorer, where 99% of microfibres were captured from the ship’s laundry wastewater.

In May 2024, Marella Cruises installed two INDIKON Marine filters on the crew laundry system of Marella Explorer as part of an effort to prevent microplastic pollution from reaching the marine ecosystems. The initiative is backed by research from the University of Surrey and independent laboratory tests that confirmed the filters’ high capture rate.

The INDIKON filters will now be deployed across all five ships in the fleet. The installation is expected to capture approximately 500kg of microfibres per ship per year. The filters are also reusable and recyclable, making them a sustainable solution for long-term environmental protection.

Marella Cruises' parent company, TUI Cruises, also trialed the INDIKON filters last year, signaling a broader industry interest in tackling microplastic pollution at sea.

“Installing the INDIKON filters across our fleet will help prevent microplastics from entering our oceans, which pose a serious threat to marine life,” said Olivia Wells, Sustainability Manager at Marella Cruises. “Microfibres account for 35% of marine microplastic pollution and can carry toxic chemicals that harm ecosystems. We hope this initiative inspires other cruise lines to take similar action.”

Cleaner Seas Group CEO Dave Miller praised Marella Cruises for its commitment to sustainability, calling the collaboration “a major step in microplastic prevention at sea.” He added, “Marella has set a new standard in the cruise industry, and we look forward to expanding this partnership across the TUI Group.”