Carnival Corporation & plc is investing in a broad range of voluntary energy reduction initiatives that meet or surpass the requirements of current laws and regulations. Reducing fuel and driving energy efficiency takes multimillion-dollar investments and a multipronged strategy that includes:
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Designing Our Ships for Greater Efficiencies
Effective fuel conservation starts with efficient ship design. Engine design has a major impact on efficiency and resultant emissions. Carnival Corporation & plc actively participates in the Working Groups at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that have and are continuing to develop efficiency regulations and standards that affect the cruise industry. When we build new ships, consideration is given to implementing fuel conservation-related design strategies including:
- optimizing hull design and coating systems to minimize drag;
- selecting fuel-efficient combustion equipment;
- installing equipment to use waste heat; and
- installing energy-efficient on-board equipment, including lighting.
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Maintaining Our Vessels
Carnival Corporation & plc continuously refurbishes and updates vessels to make them more efficient and to reduce fuel consumption and air emissions. We are achieving some key energy reductions through:
- optimizing diesel generator use at sea and in port;
- managing use of evaporators;
- using fluorescent and LED lighting;
- utilizing automatic heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) control systems;
- changing chiller additives;
- applying silicone-based anti-fouling marine hull coatings;
- cleaning propellers and hulls periodically;
- optimizing plant energy consumption;
- increasing use of waste heat from engine exhaust for fresh water production and steam generation; and
- using vessel shore power installations (“cold ironing”) where available.
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Minimizing Fuel Use and Engine Emissions
To reduce the environmental footprint and our fuel costs from operating our ships’ diesel-electric and diesel power plants, we implement measures that are based on existing International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations. These measures include developing a ship-specific ‘Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan’ (SEEMP) for each vessel. SEEMP became mandatory for all ships of 400 gross tonnage and above starting on January 1st, 2013.
We also examine ways to increase energy efficiency through fuel homogenizers, which improve combustion and reduce fuel consumption. In addition, we optimize the use of diesel generators on board to improve efficiency, and we use waste heat generated by the ships’ engines to heat water instead of relying on the ships’ boilers. We reduce the power required by engine room ventilation fans, through use of variable-frequency fan-drive motors and related pressure and temperature control systems.
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Implementing Other Energy-Saving Initiatives
Carnival Corporation & plc is introducing other energy-saving measures, including:
- designing more fuel-efficient itineraries;
- using voyage optimization tools;
- increasing energy use awareness through education and training of guests and crew;
- developing our ability to use alternative fuels; and
- researching and developing emissions-reduction technologies.
