By
Alex Smith |
Expedition cruise line Ponant is currently designing a new cruise vessel that will have no impact on the environment while sailing.
“For several months now we’ve been working on a new whole life cycle concept ship to reduce its ecological footprint,” said Mathieu Petiteau, new building and R&D director at Ponant. “We’re assessing all the potential impacts: discharges into the atmosphere and water, microplastics, noise levels, and social and human impacts. As with Le Commandant Charcot, it will also be available to scientists. A totally new generation of ship needs to be designed and we intend to deliver it.”
Ponant’s aim during the development is to deliver a ship that can combine several non-fossil fuel energy sources by integrating technological bricks. New generation biofuels such as green hydrogen are being assessed, as well as possibilities for wind and water propulsion. Ponant is working with partners in other industries and contributing to several European research projects to develop and test these technologies.
The scope of work for the project is set to be ready by the end of 2022, with the preliminary plans then produced and technical specifications drawn up for a call for tenders. Ponant aims to have the ship sailing by 2025.