Ponant unveils innovative, green design concept seen ready to sail by 2030
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- Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen
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- Published: 06 July 2023 06 July 2023
Ponant, the French expedition cruise line, said it has committed to a uniquely designed transoceanic ship, supporting the evolution towards carbon neutrality.
The company’s R&D team have come up with a pioneering concept that combines six groundbreaking technologies, that will redefine future navigation. The sailing ship, which will be ready by 2030, aims to be a catalyst for new energy solutions for Ponant and the broader industry.
“Whilst Ponant has chosen to join forces once again with naval architects Stirling Design International, discussions are ongoing to select the shipyard for the delivery of this vastly evolved and cutting-edge vessel,” the company said in a statement.
A technological revolution that puts sustainability at the heart of the project
“By 2030, our future ship aims to have zero greenhouse gas emissions when sailing, manoeuvring, 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
"The next generation of eco-designed Ponant ships will be a key milestone in achieving our net zero emissions ambition. With around a hundred staterooms and a length overall of 181m, Ponant’s future sailing ship is paving the way to a new era for the maritime industry," he said.
In line with new European and international regulations on greenhouse gas emissions, Ponant is adopting an unprecedented eco-design approach. This is a major advancement in shipbuilding with selection of equipment and materials based on an analysis of their life cycle through to the recycling of waste.
Ponant heads up project with strong replicability potential to speed up decarbonisation of the shipbuilding industry.
Swap2Zero aims for zero CO2 eq* emissions in operation, with one month autonomy by being the first to combine six major decarbonisation technology building blocks:
- A sail power system and hull providing an average of 50% of the propulsion energy using the force of the wind;
- A surface area totalling over 1,000m2 of photovoltaic panels, with new generation organic solar eco-designed devices integrated into the structures and sails;
- A low temperature fuel cell operating on liquid hydrogen for propulsion, with the water and heat produced being recycled;
- A high temperature fuel cell to meet the ship’s hotel load requirements, with the heat emitted being recovered and used to produce hot water;
- On-board carbon capture technology, coupled with the high temperature fuel cell;
- An innovative bespoke energy management system to control and distribute power without any generators being in service.
“The Swap2Zero ship is also part of the Ponabnt Science programme in line with our commitment to scientists. She will host researchers involved in decarbonisation technologies, a major challenge in the battle to control global warming,” the company said.
Renaissance enters service
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- Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen
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- Published: 03 July 2023 03 July 2023
Following a lengthy refit at the Damen shipyard in Brest in northern France, Renaissance of Compagnie Française de Croisières has entered service.
The ship that started life as Maasdam of Holland America Line in 1993 sailed for its first cruise for its new French owner on 29 June from Le Havre. This will take the ship to ports in the British Isles.
The ship was named at a ceremony in Le Havre on 28 June, the company said in a statement.
CFC acquired the vessel from a Greek company called SeaJets that did not operate it. The first cruise had to be postponed as a refit that had started in October lasted longer than what had been originally anticipated.
The 55,575 gross ton ship takes its name from a much smaller vessel of the same name that operated on the French market from the 1960s and the 1970s.
Cruises fourth most favoured holiday option in UK poll
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- Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen
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- Published: 03 July 2023 03 July 2023
Cruises have come fourth in a poll to rate various holiday options in a UK poll that covered just over 1,800 respondents and was carried out by online agency Travelzoo, Travel Weekly reports.
City breaks, beach holidays and by cultural or historical sightseeing or experiences held the first three positions.
“When asked what they would like to do on holiday, 46% said they would like to visit somewhere completely new; 39% had no preference and were open to ideas while 15% would visit somewhere they know and love,” Travel Weekly reported.
Holland America Line to offer ex UK sailing for first time in half decade
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- Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen
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- Published: 03 July 2023 03 July 2023
Holland America Line will offer a sailing from the UK port of Dover in September, the first time the Carnival group company has offered a departure from the country in five years.
Nieuw Statendam, which is the second Pinnacle class ship of the company, will operate the 11-day Iberian cruise, which will depart Copenhagen on 6 September.
“The ship will then call in Dover on 8 September to pick up ex-UK guests for the nine remaining days,” the comoany said in a statement. The itinerary then includes calls at Porto, Lisbon, Seville and Barcelona and the cruise will terminate in Civitavecchia on 17 September.
“Cruise-only fares for the nine-day ex-UK segment lead in from £599pp based on two people sharing an inside stateroom,’ the company said.
Viking Line celebrates 50 years linking Turku to Stockholm
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
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- Published: 03 July 2023 03 July 2023
Viking Line has linked Turku with Stockholm since 1973. Over the decades, the popularity of the route has been boosted by shopping bargains, good economic times and bad, and ever more beautiful vessels. For this anniversary year, Viking Line is offering a package that combines a city holiday in Turku with a sea journey in one of the world’s most beautiful archipelagos.
For 50 years, the Turku route has grown into a cornerstone of Viking Line’s business and become a route that the shipping company has made significant investments in. Over the past ten years, the two most climate-smart vessels on the Baltic Sea have started operating on the route. Viking Grace made its maiden voyage in 2013, and Viking Glory was placed in service in 2022.
Last year, a total of 1.95 million passengers sailed on Viking Line’s Turku vesels, and the company’s market share on the route was as much as 68%. The new vessels are big attractions not just for people sailing the Baltic Sea but also for visitors coming to Turku.
“The proximity to the sea and maritime passenger service between Turku and Stockholm are an important part of our city’s identity and attractiveness. Smooth commuter traffic by sea is an important competitive factor for businesses in our region. It is impossible to imagine Turku without Viking Line and the sea link to Stockholm that this passenger service enables. For 50 years, Viking Line has shown courage in renewing itself and investing to strengthen this vital link,” says the mayor of Turku, Minna Arve.
Viking Line launched service between Turku and Stockholm in the summer of 1973, when Viking 4 and Marella started morning and evening sailings on the new route. Turku had long been of interest to what was then Vikinglinjen, since the city offered “the fastest route to the west”. The route was expected to tempt Finns into trying cruise travel, which was still unusual then, because in a single day passengers on the Turku vessels could “eat and drink more cheaply than on land and buy their allowance of alcohol and tobacco at cheap prices on board”.
“Finns became really interested in taking a cruise in the 1980s. The Turku vessels played an important role in this boom, and the mini cruises in particular drew people from different parts of the country. Trains and tour operator buses stopped right outside the terminal,” says Viking Line’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications, Johanna Boijer-Svahnström.
“At that time, it was exotic to go on a cruise. People travelled to Stockholm to buy products that weren’t available in Finland – even food. Our prices were moderate from the very beginning, since we wanted the boat trips to be accessible to everyone. The popularity of these affordable cruises did not fade even during the recession – then too, people needed to relax and get away from their everyday lives.”
With the breakthrough in cruise tourism, the 1980s were a golden age for the construction of every larger and more luxurious passenger ships. On the Turku route, Viking Line placed Viking Sally in service in 1980, Rosella in 1981 and Amorella in 1988. At the end of the decade, the company built its own port terminal in the Port of Turku.
“Versatility is the big advantage of the Turku route. On morning departures, people can enjoy the world’s most beautiful archipelago all day long, while the evening departures offer a long day in Stockholm and the picnic cruises provide a compact way for people to leave their everyday world behind. The route is popular with people travelling by car as well as with passengers attending a conference or taking a cruise. The vessels call both day and night at Åland, which is an important tourist destination for Viking Line,” notes Johanna Boijer-Svahnström.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Turku route, Viking Line has launched a mini-holiday package that, along with the cruise, also includes one night in a Turku hotel.
“Turku is a fantastic city for tourists since there is a lot to see and experience. By booking our new package, our passengers can enjoy Turku all day long if they want, get a good night’s sleep and then move comfortably to our flagship Glory for its morning departure. The mini-holiday has been well received by our customers, who previously headed for Turku and the morning departure really early in the morning.”
Viking Line’s vessels on the Turku route over the years:
– Viking 4 1973–1979
– Marella 1973–1979
– Turella 1979–1980
– Diana II 1979–1981
– Viking Sally 1980–1990
– Rosella 1981–1988, 1994–2002
– Amorella 1988–2022
– Kalypso 1990–1993
– Isabella 1997–2013
– Viking Grace 2013–
– Viking Glory 2022–
Photos from top to bottom: Viking Glory in Turku, credit: Port of Turku
Viking Glory and Viking Grace meet daily in Mariehamn, credit: Teijo Niemela
Cruise Media LLC Chief Content Officer Carolyn Spencer Brown enjoying a sail-away from Turku onboard the Viking Glory
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