This is the world’s most eco-friendly cruise ship
Japan-based NGO Peace Boat says it has completed the design of the Ecoship, which it describes as "the world's greenest cruise ship".
Details of the ship's maiden voyage, pencilled in for 2020, will be announced at the COP21 conference.
The 55,000 tonne ship was developed by a team of more than 30 engineers and experts, and contains a host of environmentally-friendly features inspired by nature.
According to the organisation, it will feature 10 retractable solar-panelled sails, wind generators, and a "future-ready" hybrid engine.
The ship's aerodynamic upper hull has been inspired by the shape of a humpback whale, and will be covered in a non-toxic coating designed to mimic the scales of a fish.
"Peace Boat's 2020 launch of the Ecoship offers a vision for a climate-friendly future and can lead the way towards a green cruising model that can also impact the wider shipping industry," Peace Boat founder and director Yoshioka Tatsuya told Hellenic Shipping News.
"The industry must adapt to the planet's needs."
Maritime transport emits around 1000 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually and is responsible for about 2.5 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to a report last month from the European Commission.
Peace Boat says the Ecoship will carry 5000 people a year, hosting educational voyages around the world and providing a venue for green technology exhibitions.
First appeared on Stuff.co.nz.
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