FERRY PROFILE Shell’s ‘Electric Dream’ becomes reality GREEN CORRIDORS Shore power key to UK and France green corridor ALTERNATIVE POWER Passenger vessels leading the electrification of Asian shipping FERRY DESIGN Overcoming limitations with Damen’s E-cat 3rd Quarter 2023 www.passengership.info Enter Explora I: redefining luxury travel at seawww.passengership.info Contents 3rd Quarter 2023 volume 16 issue 3 www.passengership.info Passenger Ship Technology | 3rd Quarter 2023 REGULARS 5 COMMENT 6 MARKET UPDATES FERRY PROFILES 8 Electric Dream project becomes reality as Shell unveils first of three all-electric ferries 10 Enter the E-Cat: Reederei Norden-Frisia’s all-electric ferry is being built by Damen CRUISE PROFILES 15 Explora Journeys chief executive offcier Michael Ungerer explains the key factors behind the design and technology of first ship Explora I 18 Carnival Cruise Line executives explain the LNG and other environmentally friendly solutions being deployed on third Excel-class Carnival Jubilee GREEN CORRIDOR FOCUS 20 Unveiling shore power’s role in the UK’s first green shipping corridor - an exclusive interview FRESHWATER GENERATION 22 A new freshwater generator increases energy efficiency RESERVATIONS & TICKETING SYSTEMS 24 Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and automation boost passenger ticketing systems INTERIOR AND DESIGN 30 Marella Cruises reveals the secrets behind the reimagined Marella Voyage 32 Studio DADO: behind the redesign of Pearl Mist SAFETY TECHNOLOGY 35 New contracts, solutions and an innovative project aim to improve passenger ship safety COMMUNICATIONS 40 How digitalisation can accelerate ESG reporting 42 Demand for broadband has surpassed pre-Covid 19 pandemic levels; we examine the ramifications 15 20 35 10www.passengership.info Contents 3rd Quarter 2023 volume 16 issue 3 Passenger Ship Technology | 3rd Quarter 2023 www.passengership.info Disclaimer: Although every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this publication is correct, the Author and Publisher accept no liability to any party for any inaccuracies that may occur. Any third party material included with the publication is supplied in good faith and the Publisher accepts no liability in respect of content. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, reprinted or stored in any electronic medium or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission of the copyright owner. Subscribe Today A year’s subscription to Passenger Ship Technology for £220 includes: • 4 print issues of the magazine, sent quarterly over a 12 month period. • Digital edition library access. To purchase more than one copy or for corporate subscriptions please contact Sally Church e: sally.church@rivieramm.com t: +44 20 8370 7018 Subscribe online at: Editor: Rebecca Moore t: +44 20 8370 7797 e: rebecca.moore@rivieramm.com Brand Manager: Indrit Kruja t: +44 20 8370 7792 e: indrit.kruja@rivieramm.com Head of Sales – Asia: Kym Tan t: +65 6809 1278 e: kym.tan@rivieramm.com Senior Creative Manager: Mark Lukmanji t: +44 20 8370 7019 e: mark.lukmanji@rivieramm.com Chairman: John Labdon Managing Director: Steve Labdon Finance Director: Cathy Labdon Executive Editor & Head of Business Relations: Edwin Lampert Managing Editor: John Snyder Published by: Riviera Maritime Media Ltd Mitre House 66 Abbey Road Enfield EN1 2QN UK www.rivieramm.com ISSN 1758-7255 (Print) ISSN 2051-0608 (Online) ©2023 Riviera Maritime Media Ltd (Front cover source: Explora I in Fincantieri shipyard (source: Fincantieri) BRIDGE SYSTEMS 44 International regulations and standards are required for e-navigation for sub-ECDIS vessels ALTERNATIVE MEANS OF POWER 47 A webinar reveals how passenger ships are driving electrification forward in Asia CLASSIFICATION 50 Class societies are working on several innovative net zero projects for ferries and cruise ships NEXT ISSUE Special focus: China; safety equipment maintenance; simulation and training; innovative electric propulsion; emissions abatement technology; noise and vibration; bunker fuel and lubes; cruise description: Princess Cruises: Sun Princess; Cruise description: Celebrity Cruises: Celebrity Ascent 50Rebecca Moore, Editor COMMENT | 5 www.passengership.info Passenger Ship Technology | 3rd Quarter 2023 Passenger ships: pushing the envelope P assenger ship operators and owners are extending the limits when it comes to reaching net zero, with projects and new technologies that push the boundaries. This can be seen in a flurry of recent projects. Take Ponant’s Swap2Zero sailing ship concept. Aiming to be ready by 2030, it will feature six groundbreaking technologies that take it to net zero. These include: a sail power system and hull providing an average 50% of propulsion energy using the force of the wind; a surface area totalling more than 1,000 m 2 of photovoltaic panels, with new-generation organic solar eco-designed devices integrated into the structures and sails; a low- temperature fuel cell operating on liquid hydrogen for propulsion, with the water and heat produced being recycled; and a high-temperature fuel cell to meet the ship’s hotel load requirements, with the heat emitted being recovered and used to produce hot water, among other technologies. The potential of wind has also been highlighted by Accor’s Orient Express Silenseas project. Ordered at Chantiers de l’Atlantique and classed by Bureau Veritas, the ship will be a combination of a luxury yacht and liner and use Solid Sail technology; the sails will be combined with dual- fuel engine propulsion. Highlighting the potential of wind, Bureau Veritas global market leader, passenger ships and ferries, Andreas Ullrich comments, “I hope we see a return to sails; wind is carbon free and freely available, and while there are challenges related to stability and wind conditions, these can be managed.” Wind also plays an important role in Hurtigruten’s Sea Zero, which is a consortium of 12 maritime partners and research institute SINTEF, all joined in the pursuit of achieving emissions-free marine travel. Tasked with developing energy- efficient, carbon-neutral technology solutions, the consortium behind the project shared key findings following its first year of research. Hurtigruten Norway’s future ships will be electric and equipped with batteries that charge in port. Combining 60-MW battery solutions with wind technology, the ship is expected to feature numerous firsts and improved solutions that do not exist on cruise ships today, including retractable sails with solar panels, artificial intelligence (AI) manoeuvring, contra- rotating propellers and multiple retractable thrusters. Additional technologies include air lubrication, an advanced hull coating and proactive hull cleaning. The three retractable, autonomous wing rigs will comprise 1,500 m² of solar panels and a total wind surface of 750 m², reaching a maximum height of 50 m when fully extended. Elsewhere, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has announced its collaboration with Path2Zero, a five- year research project led by Delft University of Technology, which is aimed at leading the transition of the European inland shipping industry towards net zero. The project will employ ’living lab’ workshops to create digital models of the shipping system and test the efficacy of technologies developed to achieve net-zero shipping. A noteworthy aspect of such projects is the way the cruise industry is collaborating to get to net zero. Each project highlighted above involves industry collaboration. Indeed, Ponant chief executive Hervé Gastinel says, “This is much more than a new ship. We want to offer a new mode of navigation and actively contribute to decarbonisation of the maritime sector… With Swap2Zero, we are building a French technological showcase to convince other stakeholders to commit to carbon- neutral navigation.” These future plans are just the tip of the iceberg, with more appearing by the day. Pushing the limits with all this new technology will get the passenger ship industry to zero. PST THE POTENTIAL OF WIND HAS ALSO BEEN HIGHLIGHTED BY ACCOR’S ORIENT EXPRESS SILENSEAS PROJECT ” “Passenger Ship Technology | 3rd Quarter 2023 www.passengership.info 6 | MARKET UPDATES Ponant’s Swap2Zero concept (source: Stirling Design International – Oceanwings) Cruise operators launch net zero designs A range of new designs and collaborations by cruise ship operators show an ever-stronger move to net zero P onant’s R&D team have come up with a pioneering ship concept that combines six groundbreaking technologies, which the company said will “redefine future navigation” The sailing ship, which will be ready by 2030, aims to be a catalyst for new energy solutions for Ponant and the broader industry. Ponant has joined forces with naval architects Stirling Design International, and discussions are ongoing to select the shipyard for the delivery of the vessel. “By 2030, our future ship aims to have zero greenhouse gas emissions when sailing, manoeuvring, in port or at anchor. Its carbon footprint will be reduced throughout its lifecycle. Renewable energy supplied by the wind and sun will be combined with low- carbon non-fossil energy associated with fuel cells,” said Ponant chief executive Hervé Gastinel. Ponant said its next generation of eco-designed Ponant ships will be a key milestone in achieving its net- zero emissions ambition. With around 100 staterooms and a length overall of 181 m, Ponant said that in line with new European and international regulations on greenhouse gas emissions, it is adopting an “unprecedented eco-design approach”, with equipment and materials selected based on an analysis of their lifecycle through to waste recycling. Swap2Zero aims for zero CO2 emissions in operation by combining six major decarbonisation technology building blocks: • A sail power system and hull providing an average of 50% of the propulsion energy using the force of the wind. • A surface area totalling more than 1,000 m 2 of photovoltaic panels, with new-generation organic solar eco- designed devices integrated into the structures and sails. • A low-temperature fuel cell operating on liquid hydrogen for propulsion, with the water and heat produced being recycled. • A high-temperature fuel cell to meet the ship’s hotel load requirements, with the heat emitted being recovered and used to produce hot water. • Onboard carbon capture technology, coupled with the high-temperature fuel cell. • An innovative bespoke energy management system to control and distribute power without any generators being in service. “PONANT is a company of sailors focused on exploration and innovation, and it is this pioneering spirit that is inspiring the whole Swap2Zero programme,” said Mr Gastinel. “This is much more than a new ship. We want to offer a new mode of navigation and actively contribute to decarbonisation of the maritime sector...With Swap2Zero, we are building a French technological showcase to convince other stakeholders to commit to carbon-neutral navigation”. The research project Sea Zero has revealed early concept plans for its first zero-emission ship, with VARD the design and shipbuilding company behind the concept visuals. Initially announced in March 2022 under project name Sea Zero, the first-of-its-kind initiative has revealed early concept plans for the world’s www.passengership.info Passenger Ship Technology | 3rd Quarter 2023 MARKET UPDATES | 7 most energy-efficient cruise ship. Hurtigruten Norway presented the findings alongside its consortium of 12 maritime partners and research institute SINTEF, all joined in the pursuit of achieving emissions-free marine travel. Tasked with developing energy- efficient, carbon-neutral technology solutions, the consortium shared key findings following its first year of research into the topic. In line with its focus on sustainable operations tailored to the Norwegian coast, Hurtigruten Norway plans for smaller, custom-built ships that leave a positive footprint with zero emissions to both sea and land. With the first ship ready in 2030, the company plans to transform its entire fleet to zero- emissions vessels. Hurtigruten Norway’s future ships will be electric and equipped with batteries that charge in port. Combining 60-MW battery solutions with wind technology, the ship is expected to feature numerous firsts and improved solutions that do not exist on cruise ships today, including retractable sails with solar panels, artificial intelligence (AI) manoeuvring, contra- rotating propellers and multiple retractable thrusters. Additional technologies include air lubrication, advanced hull coating, and proactive hull cleaning. Battery levels will be displayed on the ship’s external sides, while the bridge is expected to reduce significantly in size following enhanced AI manoeuvring, mimicking that of an airplane cockpit. The cruise line will use AI to collect data that learns the most efficient docking and undocking methods for each port, improving in-port operations in challenging weather. The three retractable, autonomous wing rigs will comprise 1,500 m² of solar panels and a total wind surface of 750 m², reaching a maximum height of 50 m when fully extended. VARD said in a release that Hurtigruten Norway “strives for superior guest comfort and spectacular views on board its first zero-emissions ship”. A streamlined shape will result in less air resistance, reduce energy use, and increase passenger comfort. In addition to ample outdoor space, enlarged surface areas with dedicated windows will allow for unparalleled views of what is often described as ‘the world’s most beautiful coastline.’ Havila Voyage has joined a partnership formed in response to the Green Shipping Challenge formulated by Norwegian and US governments, Norwegian maritime cluster organisations, shipping-industry associations, shipowners, business organisations, classification societies and finance actors The Green Shipping Challenge, whose primary aim is to catalyse the global transition to green shipping, was issued as part of a joint statement on climate by Norwegian Prime Minister Johas Gahr Støre and Special Presidential Envoy on Climate John Kerry in May 2022. Participants in the Norwegian collaboration will strive towards reducing emissions from shipping by 50% by 2030, in line with Norway’s national climate goals. This comes in addition to the current target of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to reduce CO2 emissions from global shipping by at least 40% by 2030 and 70% by 2050. Alongside efforts to improve the energy efficiency of existing vessels, the partners undertake to develop, design and build the zero-emissions vessels of the future. Achieving 2030 national climate goals will require 700 low- emissions and 400 zero-emissions ships in Norway alone. “Together, we are ready to enter into a binding partnership with the authorities to reach our national climate targets, and this is a big step towards closer co-operation.” GCE Blue Maritime head of cluster Daniel Garden said: “To have the lowest impact on the world’s natural resources, the transition must consist of both a green conversion programme for existing ships, and a comprehensive green newbuilding programme. The partners will also contribute to nascent green shipping corridors in Europe through the development of port infrastructure along the Norwegian coast.” Collaboration participants include GCE Blue Maritime (maritime cluster centre of excellence), NCE Maritime, Havila Kystruten (Havila Voyages), Hurtigruten, Kongsberg and DNV among others. “This is in line with our vision for the future of our industry in general, and along the coastal route in particular. Therefore, it was only natural for us to support this initiative.” said Havila Voyages chief executive Bent Martini. PST Combining 60-MW battery solutions with wind technology, the ship will feature numerous firsts and improved solutions that do not exist on cruise ships today (source: VARD Design)Next >