Cruise tourism has been in fashion in recent years: new routes and themed cruises are emerging with gourmet dinners, water play areas, nightly pool parties, outdoor slides and all kinds of on-board entertainment. In Spain alone, in 2023, cruise passenger traffic has skyrocketed by 75% compared to the previous year, exceeding pre-pandemic levels, according to data published by the public body Puertos del Estado.
However, this tourism boom causes environmental damage, related to pollution and the overcrowding of cities, which is why most maritime companies are promoting more sustainable practices in the sector.
Ponant, the French company founded in 1988, begins a journey towards zero emissions with the Swap2Zero boat project that will combine six revolutionary technologies to redefine the navigation of the future. The sailboat, which is expected to be ready in 2030, aims to have zero greenhouse gas emissions when sailing, maneuvering, in port or at anchor. “Renewable energy supplied by wind and sun will be combined with low-carbon, non-fossil energy associated with fuel cells,” explains Hervé Gastinel, CEO of Ponant.
To reduce its ecological footprint, several non-fossil fuel energy sources, including wind propulsion, will be used on the ship. Multiple photovoltaic panels with eco-designed solar panels, fuel cells that will recycle the water and heat produced, carbon capture technology on board and a system that will allow energy to be distributed without the need for generators, are some of those modifications planned by the company.
Swap2Zero will be the first cruise ship to combine six major decarbonization technological blocks. From the selection of sustainable materials to the introduction of new technologies, the creators of the pioneering project and the scientists of the Ponant Science program pay attention to all stages of shipbuilding, fulfilling the French company's commitments towards more responsible tourism.
