How are today's technological advancements driving tomorrow's ships?
We believe that knowledge and technology development are the results of many person’s efforts and not a one-off event. The development process can be frustrating, when you feel you are in a dead end, but time may prove you are right. For example, the combustion engine that use hydrogen was conceived in the earliest 1800s and we are now collecting all those experiences to develop green solutions based in the same fuel.
Our design and engineering department already made advanced drafts for hydrogen-based or ammonia-based vessels. Remote controlled ships are also part of the landscape we foresee for the coming years. If you think about it, the technologies above mentioned are not new at all, but it takes time to take them to the maturity level needed to incorporate them in a vessel. In terms of troubleshooting, monitoring and in time action taking IOT will change the way equipment is managed. In any case, regardless of the technologies involved, concern for the environment will be at the center of our efforts and the designs of the future will invest enormous amounts of energy in providing protection to our planet.
How does the design and build of a ship effect a passenger's experience?
The persons, not only in passenger ships, are in the center of designs thought. Even in workboats, the mission belongs to the crew, not to the ship. Despite you can adopt methodologies (e.g. design thinking) to foresee people’s actions, learn about demeanors and adapt a ship to meet passengers expectations; behaviors change and we think is better to give the vessel the flexibility to adapt her design to emerging tendences. For example, 15 years ago people did not used to spend much of the day with their head down looking at a cell phone. A cruise must last more than that, so we attempt not to force the passengers’ conducts, but to provide a universe of possibilities.
With sustainability being top of mind for the entire cruise industry, how do you see ship equipment and shipbuilding contributing to these efforts?
The transition to green energies already begun and the cruise industry (specially the expeditions cruise industry) is already permeated of the need of limit its impact in the environment. We also feel a strong commitment of all our suppliers and main equipment developers to rises to the challenge. However, a robust global financial market and suitable instruments to encourage the adoption of green alternatives by shipowners everywhere are still a lack. Nonetheless we are optimistic about the future of the industry and understand this commitment as an opportunity for all the links of the chain.
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