Carnival Pride Begins Hull-Cleaning Technology Pilot
Carnival Cruise Line and Jotun are testing a remotely operated system designed to inspect and clean the ship’s underwater surfaces.
Carnival Pride has become the first ship in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet to use Jotun Hull Skating Solutions as part of a pilot program with marine coatings and hull performance company Jotun.
The system includes the HullSkater, a remotely operated robotic vehicle that is kept aboard Carnival Pride. It can be deployed underwater to travel along the hull, using cameras and sensors to inspect conditions below the waterline and conduct routine cleaning when required.
The pilot is intended to support more efficient ship operations by addressing marine growth on underwater surfaces. Such growth can raise a vessel’s propulsion power demand by as much as 25% to 30%. Propulsion accounts for approximately 60% of a cruise ship’s total energy consumption.
Carnival is gathering operational data and other findings from the trial aboard Carnival Pride to evaluate how the technology could contribute to more efficient and sustainable operations.