Air lubrication refit for Carnival cruise ship

Carnival Corporation said it chose to retrofit Silverstream’s air lubrication system following a careful analysis of air lubrication technologies and Silverstream’s impressive proven track-record for delivering tangible reductions in fuel costs and emissions.

“Sustainability is a top priority for Carnival Corporation,” said Mike Kaczmarek, Vice President of Corporate Marine Technology for Carnival Corporation.

“Our recent Sustainability Report, published in 2017, set clear goals for improving the efficiency of our fleet through overall operations and innovative solutions. Retrofitting Silverstream’s air lubrication technology on the Diamond Princess is another example of our ongoing efforts to leverage technology to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.”

Emissions reduction

Silverstream’s air lubrication system has been in operation since June 2017, reducing fuel consumption and related CO2 emissions.

It recently completed its final contract trials, which demonstrated that the original performance expectations were exceeded with net efficiency improvements of over 5% at the design service speed, verified by Lloyd’s Register.

Additionally, data from installations has shown that noise and vibration emissions are also reduced.

Noah Silberschmidt, CEO, Silverstream Technologies said: “The installation of the Silverstream System on the Diamond Princess once again demonstrates the very real demand for proven clean technologies that are cost-effective, easy to implement and operate, and deliver the efficiency benefits that are claimed.”

“Cruise operators are under increasing pressure from customers and regulators to improve sustainability,” he added. “Our work with Carnival Corporation and Princess Cruises reflects the growing confidence in our technology.”