by Desirée Kaplan for World Economic Forum
The cruise ship industry is at an all-time high with millions of passengers booking trips every year, but is it a sustainable way to travel? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, cruise ships can carry about 3,000 people per trip. Unsurprisingly, with more than 230 cruise ships operating around the world, the industry has started to leave behind a significant amount of waste in its wake.
One company, Peace Boat, has taken on the monumental challenge of creating a low carbon cruise ship. The team is bringing to life the Ecoship which blends together technology and sustainability in its design. This futuristic cruise ship will be able to carry 2,000 passengers per trip within its 750 cabins. The ship is expected to dock at about 100 ports annually and serve as a vessel to spread awareness about environmental sustainability around the world.
One of the most striking aspects of the ship’s design is the ten retractable wind generators and ten retractable photovoltaic sails perched on top of the giant vessel. The sails will produce up to ten percent of the propulsion power. Meanwhile, the wind turbines will be able to power about 30 percent of the ship’s energy while in port.
