Carnival Maritime, the technical and R&D unit of Costa Group, is actively investing and testing new onboard technologies and fuels to cut its vessels’ carbon footprint and reach its environmental ambition of net carbon neutrality as quickly as technology will allow
With 24 cruise ships in the Costa Group fleet, and 95 cruise ships in the broader Carnival-owned fleet, the company is working on the basis that moving its carbon-neutral timeline forward will require research and significant investment in a multitude of different low- or zero-carbon emissions technologies and alternative fuels.
Carnival Maritime head of research and development within the decarbonisation unit Malte Zeretzke outlined the roadmap and the technological pathways the company is considering at Riviera Maritime Media’s annual Maritime Hybrid, Electric & Hydrogen Fuel Cells Conference in Bergen, Norway.
Mr Zeretzke said in the coming years, we will likely see an array of emerging technological innovations to reduce carbon emissions such as shore-power connection, batteries, fuel cells and carbon-capture systems. Currently there is no single technology that can move the industry directly to zero emissions.
“We need to be greenhouse-gas neutral for new ships and to address the existing fleet,” said Mr Zeretzke.
In addition to the batteries, carbon-capture systems, fuel cells and shore power, he said Carnival Maritime is also considering alternative fuels, renewable energy from solar panels and rotor sails, and direct-current hybrid ship grids to cut vessel energy consumption and emissions.
“The milestone of 2050 for zero-emissions ship operations requires us to look at the possibility of doing large-scale demonstrations between 2025-2028, and from 2029,” said Mr Zeretzke.
Costa Group is installing fuel cells on one of its AIDA-brand ships and has installed battery system on another AIDA ship.
“Batteries are very important as they add another degree of freedom, but we need other energy carriers,” said Mr Zeretzke. “Wind and sun are good, but not reliable enough. Carbon capture is an interesting option, but green fuels are the key to reaching our target.”
Mr Zeretzke said there are uncertainties about ammonia and nuclear power especially in Europe, due to potential safety concerns and customer perception.
Instead, the R&D team is looking at methanol and shares the view that future zero emissions fuels should come from hydrogen using hydrocarbons, such as methanol or methane, as a hydrogen carrier for fuel cells, with a plan to begin trials with proton-exchange membrane fuel cell units and eventually moving on to solid oxide fuel cells.
“Now we need to do large-scale demonstrations,” said Mr Zeretzke.
Additionally, in the last few days, Carnival has announced partnerships with a range of maritime technology and fuel providers to support its decarbonisation efforts.
Carnival Corp is partnering with Wärtsilä and biofuels supplier GoodFuels to test biofuel on board Holland America Line’s Volendam cruise ship.
In addition to a 70% diesel/30% biofuel blend, testing with 100% biofuel was also carried out to determine the fuel’s impacts, if any, on overall engine performance, as well as on engine emissions.
The testing was carried out on a Wärtsilä ZA40 engine and is the first test of 100% biofuel blends by Wärtsilä on board a cruise ship.
Carnival Corp has also signed a contract with ’air lubrication’ technology provider SilverStream that could see the technology, described as "a uniform carpet of air bubbles that reduces friction between a ship’s hull and the water", added to more than 50 vessels in Carnival’s fleet.
Silverstream’s air lubrication system (ALS) is currently being installed on five Carnival ships and will be installed on 10 additional cruise vessels "across the majority of Carnival’s brands" in coming years, according to the technology manufacturer. The company said its systems’ implementation on Carnival’s ships "will provide a significant contribution toward the company’s decarbonisation targets over the lifetime of the vessels".
Thus far, two of Carnival Corp’s vessels have the system installed, and Princess Cruises’ Diamond Princess has seen 5% net savings on fuel and emissions. And this week, Princess Cruises awarded maritime technical services provider Bluestone Group with two orders of Silverstream’s air lubrication system to be installed on the cruise line’s Sky Princess and Enchanted Princess ships.
The last two orders follow the successful installation of the ALS on board the Regal Princess and are to be completed within the first half of 2023.
Also presenting during the conference, QinetiQ Maritime Systems’ expert on high voltage and electrical power systems Dave Gorshkov said he had supervised the design and much of the newbuilding process for the build of two ferries for DP World subsidiary P&O that are scheduled to be introduced to the Dover, UK to Calais, France, route in 2023 with no main engines.
Mr Gorshkov said the two ships have Wärtsilä diesel generators and 9-14-MW capacity batteries on board.
“The batteries are for peak shaving as the generators’ sweet spot is at around 80% load, and for zero emissions in port,” said Mr Gorshkov.
These ferries have the capability to charge batteries while in port, but there are no facilities capable of doing so in Dover or Calais. They will be charged by the generators during the short voyages between the UK and France and provide power for the ferries in the ports.
The Maritime Decarbonisation Conference Asia will be held 29 November 2022. Register your interest and access more information here
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