Danish Naval Architecture Company Knud E. Hensen designed something new for the luxury expedition cruise industry: a green cruise-liner. The company’s new vessel showcases a range of energy saving and emissions reduction technologies as well as some amazing luxury features so passengers can get the most out of the environments they visit.
The ship is designed for worldwide operations and unrestricted ocean voyages for itineraries up to 21 days with 300 passengers on board. It’s even strengthened to navigate through ice covered waters.
“The vessel has been developed in order to meet and challenge the increasing interest from the market concerning smaller size vessels for specialized and customized cruising and expeditions,” the company says on its website.
Green Technology Features
The diesel-electric power plant includes four medium-speed diesel generators in two separate engine rooms. The engines can be specified for Tier 3 NOx emission levels without exhaust gas treatment. Solar cells help offset the vessel’s electrical load and space is reserved for battery systems to provide emission-free and silent sailing through extra ecologically sensitive areas.
Engine heat recovery systems provide all of the vessel’s heating needs and other innovations in ventilation and air conditioning also reduce energy consumption. Advanced LED lighting and smart control systems contribute further to the overall low electrical load of the ship.
The green philosophy has also been considered in combining highly insulated windows and outside window walls with the latest in solar power technology.
In addition, the design integrates green technologies related to hotel services. The vessel has all facilities required to ensure that environmentally sensitive areas the ship visits remain untainted.
The cruise-liner also boasts unique luxury features like a 360-degree view observation lounge with a heli-deck above it that allows the ship’s helicopter to be lowered into a fire and explosion proof glass enclosure in the middle of the observation lounge.
An ROV (Remote Operated Vehicle) equipped with a camera can go down 3,000 meters (9,843 feet) giving passengers a chance to watch high definition video on a big screen of the coral reefs and sea life below.
According to Greenhouse Gas Study 2014 report published by International Maritime Organization shipping accounts for about 3.1 percent of annual global carbon dioxide emissions. While this isn’t a high percentage, the report warns that maritime CO2 emissions are projected to increase significantly (50 to 250 percent) in the coming decades depending on economic growth and global energy demand. Hence such vessel designs do at least provide a gleam of hope for mitigating emissions growth in transportation.
