From Venice to Norwegian fjords, regulators around the world have begun to limit the access of cruise ships to protect vulnerable areas.

The initiatives are part of a broader drive to contain the impact of tourism on local communities and ecosystems.

In order to comply with regulations, as well as minimise environmental impact, cruise operators will need new technical solutions.

Ulstein is developing a comprehensive power solution which will allow large cruise ships to run emission-free for a full day.

The solution, Ulstein Zed, will have to be adapted to individual ships, but will nonetheless have a core of common denominators. These include powerful batteries, energy recovery, specialised heating and ventilation, solar panels, hot water storage, and automation and cloud services.

Ulstein Zed is primarily a solution for newbuilds, but some of its components can also be retrofitted onto existing vessels. All the technology is currently commercially viable and available.

Alongside the technical solution, zero-emission operations will require careful planning and organisation on the part of the onboard crew. Ulstein will assist cruise operators with operational guidelines to ensure optimal usability.

Ulstein Zed allows cruise ships to visit vulnerable and protected areas without emissions and negative impacts on local ecosystems.

Ulstein Zed is not only useful for one-day missions to vulnerable areas. Once batteries and power management are installed on a vessel, systematic use can lead to a significant reduction in fuel consumption on a general basis.

The global cruise market has had a 6.6 per cent annual growth of passengers every year from 1990 to 2020. With growing concerns about visits to vulnerable areas, the importance of zero-emission operations will only become more important for these passengers.

Ulstein Group is a large group of shipbuilding, ship design and supporting companies. It is one of Norway’s largest shipbuilders and was founded in 1917.