Allan Jordan reporting from Seatrade Cruise Global conference in Fort Lauderdale
Peace Boat, an International NGO with headquarters in Tokyo, unveiled the designs and a funding agreement for its Ecoship, which it is billing as the “flagship for sustainability in the cruise industry.” The 55,000 gross ton ship, capable of carrying 1,900 passengers, has a target of reducing CO2 emissions by 40%. It is conceived as “traveling exhibition ship” to promote international exchange and cultural understanding for a sustainable society.
Peace Boat Founder and Director Yoshioka Tatsuya said that for the past two years, a team including leaders in the maritime world, renewable energy and energy efficiency has been working to create the designs, which it believes will serve as a global model as the “first and most ecological ship.” They hope to encourage the industry to follow suit urgently addressing the crisis of global warming and climate change.
With a hull form inspired by humpback whales, the Ecoship incorporates unique renewable energy features ranging from ten retractable solar-paneled sails totaling 2850-square meters, wind generators capable of producing 350 kW, closed water and waste systems and even a passenger disco designed to harvest kinetic energy. Five hundred (65%) of the staterooms will have balconies each fitted with photovoltaic solar panels and there will be a five-story vertical garden that will also pre-cool the HVAC system. Unlike traditional cruise ships, the Ecoship will forgo a casino and bars instead featuring an “Agora” for an exchange of ideas, university space, areas to host global discussions, and video conferencing to link the on-board programming with shore-side discussions and initiatives.
Singapore –based Six Capital Group has entered into an agreement becoming the exclusive economic partner for the project. They will be leading an innovative crowd-sourced funding scheme to finance the construction of the Ecoship. Patrick Teng, Founder, Executive Chairman and Chief Dealer for Six Capital said, “This is a beautiful ship, but it also has a higher purpose to create a global movement to get governments to respect, implement and make legally binding the COP21 agreements,” adopted in December 2015 by the 195 nations that attended the Paris Conference.
Peace Boat reports that they are currently in discussion with leading shipbuilders with a goal of appointing the builders by October 2016, commencing the building program in April 2017 and undertaking the Ecoship’s maiden voyage in April 2020 in time for the Summer Olympics opening in Tokyo on July 24, 2020.
