SOLUTION / PUBLIC SOURCE RECORD
Ulstein enables cruise ships to run emission free for 12 hours
- Published 8 August 2022; updated 30 September 2026; estimated reading time 2 minutes. Marked available; listed under Maritime / Operations, management and digital solutions, Battery / Integration, and Energy.
- ULSTEIN ZED™ is a power-system concept intended to let large cruise ships operate without onboard emissions in protected or vulnerable areas. The article says the system is being developed for up to a full day of zero-emission operation, while the headline refers to 12 hours. It would be tailored to each ship and combines batteries, energy recovery, specialised HVAC, solar panels, hot-water storage, automation and cloud services.
- The page says the core technologies are commercially viable and available; the integrated ZED concept is primarily for newbuilds, with some components suitable for retrofits. Ulstein also offers operational guidance to crews. It claims broader use of batteries and power management could lower fuel use beyond the zero-emission period; no vessel-specific validation or emissions calculations are included.
- The article frames the system as a response to restrictions on cruise access to areas such as Venice and Norwegian fjords. It cites annual cruise-passenger growth of 6.6% from 1990 to 2020, a historical period.
- Linked to SDGs 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure) and 14 (Life below water).
- Contact: Runar Muren, Managing Director, runar.muren@ulstein.com. Company: ULSTEIN DESIGN & SOLUTIONS AS, Osnesvegen 110, 6065 Ulsteinvik, Norway; ulstein.com. A phone-number reveal control is present.