By
Laura Hyde |
Royal Caribbean Group’s newest ships will become the first cruise vessels to convert solid waste directly into energy onboard as part of the corporation’s aim to halve food waste across its fleet by 2025.
As part of the project, Royal Caribbean International’s Icon of the Seas will be fitted with a microwave-assisted pyrolysis system, while Silversea Cruises’ Silver Nova will be equipped with a micro auto gasification system. Both systems will take onboard waste and convert it into synthesis gas (syngas) the ships can directly use as energy.
“I am proud of Royal Caribbean Group’s drive to SEA the Future and be better tomorrow than we are today,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group. “Pioneering the first waste-to-energy system on a cruise ship builds on our commitment to remove waste from local landfills and deliver great vacation experiences, responsibly.”
The global cruise company will also be implementing further initiatives across its brands to meet its target of halving food waste across its 64-ship fleet by 2025. Initiatives include developing a platform to accurately estimate how much food should be produced, prepped and ordered on a given day; using artificial intelligence technology to modify food production in real time; and tracking guest demand for specific menu items to adjust menu preparation and ordering accordingly. In addition, it will introduce both a dedicated role for an individual to monitor onboard food waste and train crew members, as well as a food waste awareness campaign in the crew dining areas fleet wide.
To date, Royal Caribbean Group has reduced food waste by 24 per cent by focusing on the front end of the food system (the main cause of onboard food waste). It has also helped divert 92 per cent of its waste from landfills since the introduction of its green hubs network, which now operate at 33 ports worldwide.