German shipyard Meyer Werft has handed over its newest cruise ship, the ‘Silver Nova’, to shipping company Silversea Cruises, the vessel being considered one of the most environmentally friendly cruise ships thanks to its innovative fuel concept.
Before the handover in Eemshaven, the Silver Nova underwent technical and nautical sea trials and successfully completed extensive tests. The ship is 243m long, 30m wide and has room for 728 passengers.
Meyer Werft MD Jan Meyer said: “We are very pleased to once again deliver a ship that will set new standards on the way to climate-neutral cruising. With the propulsion system, a combination of LNG, fuel cell system and batteries, the ship has the best possible measures to reduce emissions.”
A fuel cell system will be used on board, initially to supplement the LNG-fuelled machinery but later will be able to supply the entire hotel operation. Pollutant emissions during berthing times in port are thus completely avoided. In addition, a battery system increases the overall efficiency of the ship by absorbing peak loads, thus significantly reducing fuel consumption. A newly developed Micro Auto Gasification System (MAGS) converts waste on board into thermal energy, further increasing the vessel’s efficiency.
Silver Nova’s 728 guests are accommodated in 364 large suites including a new generation of premium suites on the ship’s aft.
