During day two of the #IAPH2025, IAPH and the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that outlines areas where the two organisations intend to cooperate. The non-binding MoU covers several areas of cooperation, focusing on industry regulation and bilateral exchange of information on technical capabilities, environmental initiatives, technical collaboration and sustainability best practices. The MoU reflects a shared intent to make it easier for the organisations to share practical know-how and learn from each other while fully respecting local authority, community engagement, and regulatory processes. The signing ceremony involved CLIA president and CEO Bud Darr and IAPH president Jens Meier (CEO, Hamburg Port Authority) and was attended by Simone Maraschi (managing director, Cruisegate Hamburg) and chair of the IAPH cruise committee, and Patrick Verhoeven, managing director of IAPH. The signing ceremony, which took place on the occasion of CLIA’s 50th and IAPHs 70th anniversaries, followed a plenary ‘fireside chat’ between Bud Darr and Patrick Verhoeven, which focused on why effective partnership between the ports and cruise industries is essential.

The agreement emphasises practical information exchange, sustainability knowledge sharing, and transparent communication.

​The International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) today announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that outlines areas where the two organisations intend to cooperate.

The non-binding MOU covers several areas of cooperation, focusing on industry regulation and bilateral exchange of information on technical capabilities, environmental initiatives, technical collaboration and sustainability best practices.

The signing ceremony, involving CLIA President and CEO Bud Darr and IAPH President Jens Meier (CEO, Hamburg Port Authority), took place at the IAPH World Ports Conference in Kobe. Marking IAPH’s 70th and CLIA’s 50th anniversaries, the MOU reflects a shared intent to make it easier for the organisations to share practical know-how and learn from each other while fully respecting local authority, community engagement, and regulatory processes.

What the MOU aims to encourage:

• Information exchange: Share knowledge and guidance on technical and technological innovations including shore power (OPS) technology and energy management, smart infrastructure and port operations management at the ship-to-shore interface
• Sustainability knowledge sharing: Encourage submissions by cruise ports and terminals to the IAPH World Ports Sustainability Program database
• Voluntary alignment: Encourage use of Environmental Ship Index (ESI) and other tools that reward verified performance and may improve utilization of available shore power.
• Constructive timing: Stay informed and aligned on regulatory developments at the IMO and, where feasible, coordinate the timing of inputs to consultations so stakeholders receive clear, consistent information—without pre-empting local rulemaking.
• Dialogue: Meet periodically to discuss lessons learned across different port contexts and identify practical resources that may help members.

IAPH and CLIA signed the MOU at the IAPH World Ports Conference following a “fireside-style” chat between Bud Darr, President & CEO of CLIA, and Patrick Verhoeven, Managing Director of IAPH, which focused on why partnership between ports and cruise is essential.

The conversation underscored how listening, co-design, and transparent progress help deliver reliable operations and stronger community outcomes—while respecting local processes and priorities.

Said Bud Darr, President and CEO of CLIA, “Partnership with ports is essential to our ability to achieve shared goals. We share the same waterfronts, the same communities, and the same need for reliable, secure, energy-ready operations. Working together makes us stronger, and that’s why this partnership focuses on what is required as we both work to advance our sectors closer to a net-zero emissions world.”

Patrick Verhoeven, Managing Director, IAPH, said, “this agreement aims to achieve reciprocal improvements in efficiency and sustainability for cruise lines, owner operators and the ports and terminals they use. We will aim to use the suite of existing tools developed by IAPH members in our Cruise, Climate and Energy, Data Collaboration and Risk & Resilience technical committees, as well as forthcoming pilot projects, to deliver material impacts for both parties.”