Carnival Corporation Helping to Drive Significant Operational Efficiencies with Advanced Hull Technology & Enhanced Hull Maintenance

Rhea-AI Summary

Carnival (NYSE/LSE: CCL) is implementing advanced hull technology and maintenance strategies to enhance fuel efficiency across its cruise fleet. The company combines custom hull designs, propulsion hardware, and underwater drone inspections to optimize hydrodynamic performance and reduce underwater drag.

Key initiatives include:

• Computer-assisted hull design optimization
• Trim optimization through internal ballast water transfer
• High-efficiency podded propellers on over 40 ships, offering up to 7% better efficiency
• Air Lubrication Systems (ALS) on 10% of the fleet, reducing fuel consumption by 5%+, with 10 more ships planned for conversion
• Underwater drone inspections for hull maintenance
• ROV robot hull cleaners trials
• Testing of next-gen hull coatings on 15% of the fleet

These initiatives support Carnival's goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Positive

• Implementation of Air Lubrication Systems reducing fuel consumption by 5%+
• High-efficiency podded propellers providing up to 7% better efficiency on 40+ ships
• 10 additional ships planned for ALS conversion in next 3 years
• Advanced technology implementation reducing operational costs

Negative

• Significant capital investment required for fleet-wide technology upgrades
• Only 10% of fleet currently equipped with Air Lubrication Systems

World's largest cruise company combines custom hull designs, propulsion hardware, and underwater inspection and cleaning drones to fine-tune hydrodynamic efficiency and reduce underwater drag

MIAMI, Feb. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world's largest cruise company, is advancing greater fuel efficiency for propulsion through innovative hull designs and new hardware and technology, along with underwater drone inspection and cleaning trials.

This work is done through complementary strategies focused on maximizing hydrodynamic performance and enhancing ongoing hull maintenance, which reduces a ship's underwater drag. Together, these efforts reduce fuel use for each ship and across the company's global fleet, which also lowers its overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

"We're not just tinkering here – we're looking at every available area for improvement for how our cruise ships operate," said Lars Ljoen, chief maritime officer for Carnival Corporation. "By combining state-of-the-art hull designs, advanced propulsion technology and years of experience, we're continuously enhancing our ships' performance."

Increasing Hydrodynamic Efficiency
The following elements cumulatively improve hydrodynamic efficiency across the fleet, reducing the propulsive power and fuel needed to drive ships through water:

• Hull Designs: When selecting the optimal hull design, computer-assisted analysis enables ship and propeller designers to run hundreds of thousands of simulations, identifying the best design options for different sailing conditions.
  
  
• Trim Optimization: Software is used onboard to optimize the trim of a vessel by transferring ballast water internally to ensure that the ship operates continuously in the best configuration for propulsive efficiency.
  
  
• Podded Propellers: Over 40 ships in the company's fleet are fitted with high-efficiency, 360-degree steerable podded propulsion units that are up to ~7% more efficient than conventional propellers. This number will continue to grow as new ships with this technology are added to the fleet.
  
  
• Air Lubrication Systems (ALS): Over 10% of the company's fleet is already equipped with this leading-edge technology, which uses air bubbles to reduce the ship's resistance as it moves through the water, reducing propulsive fuel consumption by 5% or more. Over the next three years, 10 more ships are planned for ALS conversion.
  
  
• Hull Inspections with Drones: Drones are being trialed to monitor the condition of hull coatings, allowing the company to optimize the timing of hull cleaning and manage marine growth and debris for retaining peak hydrodynamic efficiency.
  
  
• Robot Hull Cleaning: The company is conducting trials with several service providers that offer the next generation of remotely operated vehicle (ROV) "robot" hull cleaners. The ROVs can map the hull and accelerate the cleaning process, offering continuous improvement opportunities for cleaning speed, efficiency and quality to approach the goal of full hull cleaning during a single port visit and efficiently cleaning without damaging protective hull coatings.
  
  
• Next-Gen Hull Paint: Innovative new hull coatings with advanced biofouling prevention are continually being tested across the company's global operations to evaluate durability, efficiency, longevity and ease of application. At any one time, about 15% of the Carnival Corporation fleet is trialing promising new coatings.

The application of increasingly effective hull coatings, and proactive maintenance and performance strategies are high on the list of Carnival Corporation's fuel savings and decarbonization strategies as the company pursues its aspiration of net zero GHG emissions by 2050.

Ljoen added: "This has been a journey of small steps and years of continued collaboration to push the boundaries of innovation and drive solutions for greater efficiencies. It is safe to say that collectively these initiatives have contributed to significant improvements in fuel and energy efficiency over time. In essence, we are continuously reducing our environmental footprint at the same time we deliver the best vacation experience for our guests."

For more information on the company's long-term sustainability vision and focus areas, visit Carnival Corporation's dedicated report website, CarnivalSustainability.com.

This release may include claims related to our greenhouse gas emissions reductions, goals, initiatives, accomplishments, and progress reports. Supporting data for such greenhouse gas emissions claims, including data verification information, is published in our Sustainability Reports on carnivalcorp.com/sustainability on an annual basis.

About Carnival Corporation & plc
Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest global cruise company and among the largest leisure travel companies, with a portfolio of world-class cruise lines – AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises (Australia), P&O Cruises (UK), Princess Cruises, and Seabourn.

Additional information can be found on www.carnivalcorp.com, www.aida.de, www.carnival.com, www.costacruise.com, www.cunard.com, www.hollandamerica.com, www.pocruises.com.au, www.pocruises.com, www.princess.com, and www.seabourn.com.

For information on Carnival Corporation's industry-leading sustainability initiatives, visit www.carnivalsustainability.com.

Carnival Corporation Media Contacts:
Janna Rowell, Carnival Corporation, jrowell@carnival.com
Ellie Beuerman, LDWW, ellie@ldww.co

 

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SOURCE Carnival Corporation & plc

FAQ

How much fuel efficiency improvement does Carnival's (CCL) Air Lubrication System provide?

Carnival's Air Lubrication System (ALS) reduces propulsive fuel consumption by 5% or more through the use of air bubbles that reduce ship resistance in water.

What percentage of Carnival's (CCL) fleet uses podded propellers?

Over 40 ships in Carnival's fleet are equipped with 360-degree steerable podded propulsion units, providing up to 7% better efficiency than conventional propellers.

How many Carnival (CCL) ships will receive Air Lubrication System upgrades?

Carnival plans to convert 10 more ships to Air Lubrication Systems (ALS) over the next three years, adding to the current 10% of the fleet already equipped.

What is Carnival's (CCL) environmental goal regarding emissions?

Carnival aims to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

What percentage of Carnival's (CCL) fleet is testing new hull coatings?

Approximately 15% of Carnival 's fleet is continuously trialing new innovative hull coatings for improved biofouling prevention.