Design of zero emission cruise ship advances with new technology

Norwegian cruise line Hurtigruten has released updated plans for its pioneering Sea Zero project, a zero-emission cruise ship set to make its debut in 2030.

The ship, which is currently in the research and development phase, aims to revolutionise the cruise market by sailing emission-free during normal operation and reducing energy consumption by 40-50%.
The project, originally announced in October 2022, has made significant progress. A second version of the renderings, developed in collaboration with Norwegian maritime industry partners, shows advanced features designed to minimise environmental impact.
“The cruise industry is a major polluter and it is crucial that we take big steps now to reduce emissions. Our goal is to have an emission-free ship in service around 2030,” said Hedda Felin, CEO of Hurtigruten.

Retractable sails

The Sea Zero’s design aims to reduce energy consumption and environmental impact. At its core are large batteries with a capacity of about 60 megawatt hours, which serve as the primary energy source, and counter-rotating propellers as the main propulsion.
The ship also has retractable sails that can reduce energy consumption by 10%, while solar panels save another 2-3% of energy. Hurtigruten is considering retractable sails, developed by France’s OceanWings, which are already in use on the cargo ship Canopée. This technology allows the ships to reach areas where vertical clearance is limited by fixed bridges.
“We continue to see significant energy savings from retractable sails with solar panels, but this will require in-depth studies, including model trials to be carried out in the coming months. We have also changed the sail type to a more mature design already in use on cargo ships,” said Hurtigruten Chief Operating Officer Gerry Larsson-Fedde.

Air lubrication

To further improve efficiency, the hull uses air lubrication technology, which saves 5-10% energy. Finally, the ship is equipped with “smart cabins” that allow guests to control and monitor their energy consumption, promoting awareness and conservation efforts during the voyage.
“The central part of the project is to reduce energy consumption. The goal is to use significantly less energy than current ships, which requires innovative solutions,” Larsson-Fedde said.

Read this article by Mike Schuler on GCaptain‘s site.
Photo: Hurtigruten.

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