Page 94 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - ΜΑΙΟΣ 2024

INTERNATIONAL WATERS

Trends in the cruise market: began back in 2019 with preparations for a tender
• The number of new-to-cruise is increas- that was announced in 2021. In 2022, Torghat-
ing – 27% of cruisers over the past two ten Nord signed a contract with the Norwegian
years are new-to-cruise, an increase of Public Roads Administration, and an extensive
12% over the past year. development process has been underway since
• Cruises are a top choice for multi-gen- then, including Hazid, preliminary approvals,
erational travel – with more than 30% safety analyses, and model tests. After working
of families travelling by cruise with at on this prestigious project for such a long time,
least two generations and 28% of cruise it is exciting to finally start building the ferries.
travellers travelling with three to five Each of the two 117m long ferries will have a
generations. capacity of 120 cars and 599 passengers. As the
• Expedition and exploration are the ferries will operate in the outer Vestfjorden in
fastest-growing sectors of cruise tour- Lofoten, one of the longest and most challeng-
ism, with a 71% increase in passengers ing ferry routes in Norway, they are designed with
travelling on expedition itineraries from closed car decks and a special hull design for
2019 to 2023. operating in exposed waters. The vessels incorpo-
• Accessible tour excursions are on the rate new technology, ensuring safety and comfort
rise—with 45% of cruise passengers for passengers and crew without compromising.
booking an accessible tour for their Hydrogen-fueled passenger transportation over
most recent cruise. such a long and demanding route has not been
• 73% of cruise travellers say that travel conducted anywhere else in the world. The design
advisors have a meaningful influence on and technical solutions used meet all safety
their decision to cruise. aspects for ferries navigating in highly exposed
waters. The ferries will be the world’s largest
THE WORLD’S TWO LARGEST hydrogen-powered vessels and will feature the
HYDROGEN-FUELLED SHIPS TO BE largest hydrogen installation ever installed on a
BUILT IN NORWAY ship. Each vessel will have 6400 kW of fuel cells
A shipyard contract has been recently signed for with associated auxiliary systems. The onboard
the construction of the world’s two largest hydro- hydrogen is stored in compressed form.
gen ships. These ships have been designed and The ferries are designed for 100% zero-emission
developed in collaboration with Torghatten Nord and feature a multi-hybrid propulsion system
and will be built at Myklebust shipyard in Norway. with hydrogen-electric as the primary mode and
© Torghatten Nord The project “hydrogen ferry to Vestfjorden” diesel-electric as the secondary mode.
JAPAN’S FIRST HYDROGEN AND BIO
FUEL HYBRID PASSENGER SHIP
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. announced in mid-April
that the hybrid passenger ship ‘Hanaria’, which
uses hydrogen and biodiesel as fuels, started ser-
vice in Kitakyushu. The vessel was built at the
Hongawara Ship Yard Co., Ltd. for MOL Group
company MOTENA-Sea, Ltd., backed by invest-
ments from MOL Techno-Trade, Ltd.
This is the first passenger ship in Japan that can
select propulsion energy from hydrogen fuel
cells, lithium-ion batteries, and biodiesel fuel,
achieving a greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction
rate of 53%-100% compared to conventional
fossil-fueled vessels of the same class.
The ship’s first-floor passenger cabin features a
large 98-inch monitor and projector in the front,
opening up a wide range of applications beyond
transportation, such as events, environmental edu-
cation, and venues for international conferences.
In addition, the second-floor passenger cabins are
designed so passengers can enjoy cruising while
feeling the breeze from the ship’s deck.

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