French owner Ponant hopes to finalise a newbuilding contract next year for the first of its next-generation cruise ships designed to run on hydrogen, wind and solar power.
The aim of the Swap2Zero blueprint is to be emission-free by 2030.
Mathieu Petiteau, Ponant’s director of newbuild and research and development, told TradeWinds the ship would cost an estimated 30% more than conventional units due to the new technologies and sustainable design requirements.
