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Shipshape for 2050
THE SHIPS OF THE FUTURE ARE DETERMINED TO HAVE A LOW CARBON FOOTPRINT, REGARDLESS OF SIZE, WRITES TALLIS BOERNE MARCUS.
New cruise ships such as Silver Nova and MSC Euribia are marking a distinct change in the cruise industry, where sustainability is no longer just about meeting standards but also about innovating towards a greener future. Perhaps even more dramatic, Ponant has revealed its Swap2Zero cruise ship project – a vessel due to sail carbon neutrally in 2030.
Whether it’s the 228-guest Scenic Eclipse II or the 7600-capacity Icon of the Seas, major cruise lines are creating new ships with sustainability at the core – and science, innovation and community relationships as vital partners.
Shipbuilders and operators realised a quarter of a century ago the need to find new ways to meet sustainability targets. Today, passengers also want to ensure their holidays don’t damage the destinations they visit.
In a survey by CLIA, 76 per cent of British cruise passengers described themselves as “much more” or “more” aware of environmental and sustainable tourism. The cruise industry represents less than one per cent of the global shipping sector, but has committed to pursue net zero emissions by 2050. Key to reaching this goal is new vessels having less impact on the environment and being able to adapt for new sustainable fuels and technologies.
Big ship progress
MSC Euribia is carrying the torch for larger ships, with the huge 6327-passenger ship set to sail more sustainably than big ships before it. The ship’s dramatic launch from Saint-Nazaire in France showed off the ship’s green capabilities.
The ship has four dual-fuel engines that can take both liquefied natural gas (LNG) and marine gas oil, advanced onboard water and waste treatment facilities, an underwater radiated noise management system and, symbolically, has a mural with “#savethesea” written across it.
Cruise lines with ships even larger than MSC Euribia are working towards reducing their impact. Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas will be the cruise line’s first ship to use LNG. Set to be the biggest cruise ship in the world, the vessel is shore-power capable, has air lubrication systems, produces 93 per cent of its fresh water on board, has a waste heat capture system and uses AI learning to optimise route efficiency.
Mid-size changes
Oceania Vista, the new 1200-passenger ship from Oceania Cruises, has been meticulously planned to reduce emissions and its environmental impact. The vessel has onboard food digesters that use air, water and microbiology to reduce food waste, inbuilt onboard evaporation and reverse osmosis plants for water production, anti-fouling coating over the hull, LED lighting, and a selective catalytic reduction system that reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by 90 per cent. Even the X-shaped bow of the ship curves backwards to reduce the impact on the sea and improve stability and fuel efficiency. The ship is also equipped with shore-power capabilities.
At port
The owner of Oceania Vista, the NCL group, is also involved in an initiative to partner with key ports to help them install the infrastructure needed to support ships with shore-power capabilities. Particularly notable is its work with PortMiami to bring shore-power capabilities by winter 2023, as well as working with the Port of Southampton’s Horizon Cruise Terminal.
Silver Nova, Silversea’s new 728-passenger ship, is leading the way in sustainability, and aiming for an industry first by being locally emission-free when operating in ports. The ship will rely on using fuel cells and batteries, creating a 40 per cent overall reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions per double suite when compared to Silversea’s previous class of ships.
As well as this, Silver Nova will limit emissions by running on LNG via dual-fuel engines. Diving deeper into the technical details, the ship also has a micro autogasification system to reduce onboard waste and incineration emissions and shore power capabilities. It is set to achieve an Energy Efficiency Design Index rating that is 25 per cent above the International Maritime Organization’s requirements.
Zero-carbon sailing
While new ships and those soon to come are undoubtedly innovating, an eye-catching example of cruise sustainability is emerging in Ponant’s plans a little further down the line. Its Swap2Zero vessel is being designed to sail completely free from greenhouse emissions.
The new ship demonstrates the need to use many different forms of propulsion in the future. The vessel’s sail power system and hull will work towards providing 50 per cent of the propulsion energy, while 1000 square metres of photovoltaic panels produce solar energy. A low-temperature hydrogen fuel cell will provide extra power for propulsion, while a high-temp fuel cell will deal with the hotel load.
A custom energy-management system will distribute power without the use of generators. A low-temperature fuel cell will run on liquid hydrogen and then recycle all water and heat produced. The ship is an example of just how far science and design will lead the cruise industry into the future.
Ponant’s Global CEO, Hervé Gastinel, says, “By 2030, our future ship aims to have zero greenhouse gas emissions when sailing, manoeuvring, in port or at anchor. Her carbon footprint will be reduced throughout her life cycle. Renewable energy supplied by the wind and sun will be combined with low-carbon non-fossil energy associated with fuel cells.
“Our in-house R&D team has brought together the best specialists ... to imagine and develop an energy model that aims at zero emissions.”
The ship’s creation remains a work in progress, with the design set to evolve as new technologies become available.
