seatec - Finnish marine technology review 1/2011 | Page 42

Drawing: STX Finland Cruise ships are becoming environmentally friendly Many modern cruise ships are being built to meet highly ecological to only 0.1 percent by the year 2015. Fuels specifications. A number of new-generation cruise ferries are even that meet such specifications are in short specially designed for operatation in delicate maritime environments. supply and highly expensive. What’s more, measures are being taken to reduce aerial and wastewater emissions of cruise ships. NEW LNG CRUISE SHIP READY FOR USE IN 2013 Cruise ship operators are now starting to O ne of the reasons for the fresh wave been designated Emission Control Areas look for alternative fuels that are feasible of environmentally-friendly thinking by IMO. In the near future, ships operat- for modern ships and at the same time aboard and around cruise ships is Inter- ing in those areas are facing strict limits environmentally friendly. This may call for national Maritime Organisation (IMO), or for sulphur dioxide emissions. This means new design principles for new-generation more specifically its new regulations con- that new types of ship fuel supplies that cruise ferries. cerning vessels operating in environmen- are compatible with the new regulations tally sensitive areas. will need to be developed. STX Finland Oy and Viking Line have signed a preliminary agreement for the Certain maritime environments, such The sulphur content in ship fuels in construction of an innovative LNG pow- as the Baltic Sea and North Sea, have the Baltic Sea region are to be cut down ered cruise ferry for Viking Line. LNG, or 40 seatec 1/2011