Carnival Corporation expands installation of fuel-saving technology

Cruise company Carnival Corporation has announced plans to expand its programme for installation of Air Lubrication Systems (ALS) to a majority of the cruise line brands in its fleet by 2027.

This expansion aims to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions by reducing hull drag by approximately 5 per cent per ship.

Carnival Corporation is currently installing the Silverstream System ALS on five ships in total, including two ships in 2022 for its Princess Cruises and P&O Cruises (UK) brands. In addition, the company is planning at least 10 more installations for existing and new-build ships across more than half of its cruise line brands, and it expects continued expansion of the ALS program over time. The expansion plans build on the success of four systems currently operating on ships from its AIDA Cruises and Princess Cruises brands.

ALS technology, which first saw service within the Carnival Corporation fleet in 2016 with the introduction of AIDAprima, generates a cushion of air bubbles to lubricate the flat bottom of a ship’s hull, reducing friction between the ship and surrounding water, resulting in savings in energy and fuel consumption across a wide speed range.

Carnival recently contracted Silverstream to install its technology on two new Sphere-class cruise ships that are being built at a Fincantieri shipyard in Italy. The first being the 175,500 tonne Sun Princess, which is expected to be delivered in early 2024. The 345-metre new-builds will be operated by Princess Cruises and powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), paving the way for the next generation of low carbon passenger vessels.

“The installation of air lubrication technology is another example of our ongoing efforts to drive energy efficiency and reduce fuel consumption and emissions throughout our fleet,” says Bill Burke, chief maritime officer for Carnival Corporation. “We look forward to expanding the ALS program and furthering our long-term sustainability strategy to continually invest in a broad range of energy reduction initiatives, which has included over $350 million invested in energy efficiency improvements since 2016.”

Noah Silberschmidt, founder & CEO of Silverstream Technologies, adds: “Our relationship with Carnival goes from strength to strength. This landmark order of the Silverstream System for a minimum of 10 of its cruise ships, with a view to potentially contracting more applicable vessels, is a hugely important sign of the times for the cruise sector.

“The segment’s largest operator is leading the way in adopting proven clean technologies that will help decarbonise its fleet – both in the short and long term – and we’re very happy to support our longstanding partner with this crucial transformation.”

Having peaked its absolute carbon emissions in 2011, Carnival says it has rapidly reduced its carbon emissions over the past 15 years, despite significant capacity growth during that time. Carnival Corporation achieved its 2020 carbon intensity reduction goal three years ahead of schedule, in 2017.

The company says it is committed to reducing carbon emission intensity by 20 per cent from its 2019 baseline by 2030 and has set an aspiration to achieve net carbon-neutral ship operations by 2050.