PONANT has announced plans to build a transoceanic ship that embraces carbon neutrality.
According to a release, the cruise line's R&D team has come up with a ship concept, called Swap2Zero, that combines six technologies, which the company said will “redefine future navigation.” Technologies being evaluated include everything from sail power and solar devices to hydrogen, the company said.
With approximately 100 staterooms and an overall length of 181 metres, PONANT’s Swap2Zero project aims for zero CO2 emissions during operation.
PONANT hopes the vessel, which is expected to be operational by 2030, will drive new energy solutions for the company and the broader industry.
“By 2030, our future ship aims to have zero greenhouse gas emissions when sailing, maneuvering, in port or at anchor. Her carbon footprint will be reduced throughout her life cycle. Renewable energy supplied by the wind and sun will be combined with low-carbon non-fossil energy associated with fuel cells,” explains Hervé Gastinel, CEO of PONANT.
“PONANT is a company of sailors focused on exploration and innovation, and it is this pioneering spirit that is inspiring the whole Swap2Zero programme,” said Gastinel.
“This is much more than a new ship. We want to offer a new mode of navigation and actively contribute to decarbonization of the maritime sector. Our inhouse R&D team has brought together the best specialists in shipbuilding and renewable energy to imagine and develop an energy model that aims at zero emissions. With Swap2Zero, we are building a French technological showcase to convince other stakeholders to commit to carbon neutral navigation.”
