Carnival Cruise Line has revealed details of a new robot helper, HullSkater, which is being deployed to inspect and clean the ship's hull.
The remotely operated robot, developed by Norwegian engineering firm Jotun, is being trialled aboard the Carnival Pride cruise ship, where it does its work underwater, travelling along the hull using cameras and sensors to assess conditions and perform routine cleaning that removes marine growth before it accumulates.
This new, novel method of cleaning and maintenance boasts sustainability benefits. Carnival highlighted that marine growth can increase propulsion power demand by up to 25-30%, and, given that propulsion accounts for approximately 60% of a cruise ship’s total energy consumption, the cruise liner believes HullSkater can help reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
"Maintaining a clean hull is essential for efficient ship operations, and the Hull Skating Solutions allows us to take a more proactive approach to hull maintenance," said Jari Oinas, AVP of fuel performance and decarbonization at Carnival Cruise Line.
"As we evaluate the technology aboard Carnival Pride, we see strong potential to support ship performance while advancing our long-term sustainability goals."
The pilot aboard Carnival Pride will gather data insights to assess how the system can support more efficient and sustainable operations, the cruise operator added.
