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Smarter Ships, Less Food Waste & Smarter Engines: Cutting Cruise Emissions with Tech that Works

  • Ralph de Klijn
  • Sep 25
  • 3 min read

Cabin energy systems are getting attention with claims of big savings. But cabins are just one part of the story. For cruise lines, the real gains come where energy is actually spent: in the engine room and in the galley. That’s why iStrive focuses on DEX QM to cut engine fuel and emissions, and why we also help operators look at food waste reduction and processing as the next big operational win.


Cabin savings are a piece of the puzzle

Recent industry news has highlighted the promise of cabin-level energy monitoring. Vendors suggest 15–30% savings in cabin electricity use, mainly HVAC. That’s encouraging, but important to keep in perspective: cabins are only part of the hotel load, and hotel load itself is only a fraction of total ship energy use. In other words, cabin systems are worth exploring, but they won’t transform the fuel bill on their own.

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Smarter engines: measurable results with DEX QM

The engine room controls your fuel. That’s where DEX QM (represented by iStrive) comes in:

  • Measured fuel savings on engines: A RINA-documented test on a Scania DI16 marine engine shows ~3.3% average fuel saving across the load curve and ~4.8% in the common 50–80% load band with DEX QM motor oil.

  • CO₂ and ETS: Less fuel = less CO₂ = lower ETS exposure. An example cost model shows net positive results after oil costs, maintenance effects, and ETS charges are included (methodology uses an assumed ETS price per tonne CO₂). Exact savings depend on your engines and duty cycle. What we know is that results will prove this.

  • Comfort and wear: DEX QM materials indicate lower noise/vibration and extended maintenance intervals—useful for guest comfort and availability.

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Practical takeaway: If cabin controls chip away at hotel kWh, DEX QM helps shrink the fuel bill directly—and the two effects stack.

These are not just lab claims—they’re measurable, with trials and cost models that cruise operators can verify themselves.


Food waste: the still often overlooked cost and sustainability factor

Another area where cruise lines can make real progress is food waste. Galley and buffet operations generate significant waste, which drives:

  • Higher disposal costs (including landing fees and processing).

  • Extra fuel burn from handling and storing waste.

  • Regulatory exposure under MARPOL Annex V.

  • Sustainability perception: Guests notice whether waste is handled responsibly.

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Options we advise on include:

  • Food waste digesters & dehydrators to reduce volume and simplify landing.

  • Onboard separation & processing for more efficient galley operations.

  • Data tracking to identify menu and buffet inefficiencies (less waste = lower cost).

Just like with energy, the trick is measurement: knowing how much waste is generated, what it costs, and how interventions pay back.


Where iStrive adds value

Our focus is on practical, bankable solutions:

  • DEX QM in the engine room: cut fuel, emissions, noise, and ETS costs.

  • Food waste strategy: reduce galley costs, simplify compliance, and improve guest perception.

  • Operational integration: help cruise lines pilot, measure, and scale improvements that really move the needle.


Cabin systems may get the headlines, but cruise lines win when the engine room and galley are tackled with the same focus. At iStrive, we bring solutions like DEX QM and food waste optimization that deliver proven savings and sustainability gains—backed by data, not promises.


If you want to pilot these solutions on your fleet, let’s talk.


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