Eighteen of AmaWaterways’ river cruise ships in the cruise line’s European fleet have earned the prestigious Green Award certification.

The fleet-wide certification follows AmaKristina becoming the river cruise industry’s first ship to receive this designation.

The 18 river ships now recognised for industry-leading safety, quality and environmental performance, include AmaBella, AmaCello, AmaCerto, AmaDante, AmaDolce, AmaKristina, AmaLea, AmaLyra, AmaMagna, AmaMora, AmaPrima, AmaReina, AmaSerena, AmaSonata, AmaStella, AmaVenita, AmaVerde and AmaViola.

AmaWaterways president and co-founder, Rudi Schreiner, said: “We are proud to lead the charge in having our river cruise ships certified through the Green Award programme.

“Responsibility toward the environment is the foundation on which AmaWaterways’ ships are built, and our river cruise and tour programmes are operated. Respecting the principles of sustainable travel while ensuring the safety and security of guests and crew has always been our top priority.”

The Green Award certificate is a mark for ships that demonstrate high safety and environmental standards.

To earn the award, river cruise ships are evaluated based on the environmental impact of its engines, fuel consumption, waste and maintenance, pollution prevention and more.

Many ports, such as the Port of Amsterdam, offer substantial benefits to certified ships to promote safer, cleaner inland navigation and to advocate for an integrated approach for European inland waterways.

AmaWaterways’ contemporary vessels have been designed with eco-friendly elements, including LED lights; insulated windows that reduce energy needs for heating and cooling; power locks to plug into a port’s power supply instead of running generators; solar heating systems; and water treatment plants that use a membrane technology to provide microfiltration and recycling of all water used on board.

At twice the width of traditional river cruise ships, AmaMagna launched in 2019 and debuted an innovative 10-engine configuration designed to reduce overall fuel consumption by up to 20 per cent depending on river conditions.

AmaWaterways executive vice president and co-founder, Kristin Karst, said: “While current events may have delayed the start of this year’s sailing season, nothing has diminished our commitment to protecting the rivers that we sail upon. Receiving these awards for all our ships in Europe reaffirms our dedication to sustainability.

“River cruising is a wonderfully intimate way to explore the world, and we will continue to honour the environment and support the development of communities we visit by introducing innovative ways to minimise our carbon footprint.”

Visit amawaterways.co.uk for more information.