Business View Caribbean - January 2015 13
The company faced significant challenges in order to
accommodate the AEP systems on its existing ships
– some pieces of which can be as large as a school
bus, an entire system having an operational weight of
several hundred tons of equipment and liquids.
“A retrofit project of this size and complexity – and the
scale and intricacy of the research, planning, and de-
sign required – is unprecedented for our company, and
has required a very systematic process and involved
the world's leading expertise in this field,” said Harri
Kulovaara, executive vice president, maritime, Royal
Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
To ensure the right systems are available for each
ship's unique requirements, RCL contracted two AEP
technology suppliers, Swedish company Alfa Laval and
Finnish company Wartsila. Additional companies are
being hired to execute the installations.
“In addition to the teamwork it takes within our own
company to execute a program of this magnitude and
make all the necessary process improvements, the col-
laboration with government agencies has been key,”
Goldstein said. “Working with our fleets' flag states,
the United States Environmental Protection Agency,
the United States Coast Guard and Transport Canada
to explore technology development has been critical,
and we are eager to continue to work with these agen-
cies to explore whether there are additional environ-
mental benefits to using these systems.”
Installation will take place on 13 Royal Caribbean In-
ternational ships and six Celebrity Cruises ships this
month, during scheduled dry-dockings and while ships
are in service. While preliminary work has begun on
several of the ships receiving AEP systems, most will
take place between 2015 and 2017. Each installation
will take approximately eight months.
AEP systems that scrub sulfur particles from exhaust
streams are one of sev-
eral different emissions
reduction tools that RCL
employs. Another focus
is using less fuel, to
further the company's
goal of reducing its car-
bon footprint – a typical
measurement of green-
house gas emissions.
To use less fuel, RCL
has implemented hun-
dreds of energy-saving
initiatives throughout its fleet. Several new approaches
were taken in building Quantum of the Seas, including
a full-hull air lubrication system that reduces friction
between the ship and the water, which can result in
up to seven percent energy savings depending on ship
speed and itinerary; a keycard-operated master switch
for lights and air-conditioning in guest staterooms that
reduces unnecessary energy usage; and the use of
only LED or fluorescent lights.
Anticipated costs for the AEP program have been esti-
mated and included in RCL's capital expenditure and
capacity guidance.
