Oslo (TAN): Norway-based cruise line SeaDream Yacht Club’s hybrid ship SeaDream Innovation will use sustainable technology when it sets sail in 2021 so that it does not cause harm to the environment.
Claimed to be the most advanced hybrid vessel, SeaDream Innovation will get a large battery pack of approximately 4 MWh so that it can sail without noise or emission for up to three hours without disrupting the wildlife.
The ship, equipped with the hybrid system that cuts down local emissions and fuel consumption by supporting the diesel generators in “peak shaving mode”, will navigate the sensitive waters of the Norwegian fjords and the ice along the way to the North Pole. The batteries also act as “spinning reserve” which enables the system to use batteries without losing power in case of a motor shutdown.
During the course of its travel, SeaDream Innovation will be plugged into shoreside electrical grids at ports by using a multi-voltage shore connection system to reduce local pollution.
Atle Brynestad, owner of SeaDream, said: “We are proud to contribute to the cruise industry by taking the lead in developing more environmentally friendly vessels that will also sail with the Norwegian flag. We are committed to having a positive impact on the environment, our employees, our guests, our suppliers and the places we visit.”
“In the future, we all need to make a positive contribution to our environment and the local communities we visit, so guests can continue experiencing different local communities and enjoying the fantastic nature while using local services and making local purchases where possible,” he added.
Scheduled to sail to all seven continents, SeaDream was awarded a grant of USD1.8 million by Enova, an enterprise owned Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment that is responsible for the promotion of environmentally friendly production and consumption of energy.
“Batteries have entered the maritime sector, but until now, there has been little experience to show in practice, especially in cruise ships,” said Enova’s Chief Executive Officer Nils Kristian Nakstad.
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“When it comes to electricity production of surplus heat, land-based industry has shown what is possible, but at sea, such solutions are currently used very little. We depend on more people developing and using these technologies the world needs,” he added.
Other green features include an “Organic Rankine Cycle” machine to convert waste heat from the engines into electricity, producing up to 150 kW of electrical power, which would otherwise be wasted. Four modern diesel engines and a Selective Catalytic Reduction system for reducing nitrous oxide and other emissions will also be installed. SeaDream Innovation will have two podded propulsors for efficiency and maneuverability.
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