The MEYER Group underlines its technological leadership in cruise ship construction: At the world's leading cruise trade show in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the MEYER Group unveiled for the first time a cruise concept that shows what vacations could look like in the year 2100.
This year, MEYER WERFT will deliver a new cruise ship for Silversea Cruises, the Silver Nova, which will set new standards in technology and design. In addition, MEYER TURKU is building two groundbreaking cruise ships: With Icon of the Seas, the Finnish shipyard of the MEYER Group will deliver the world's largest cruise ship to Royal Caribbean International later this year. TUI Cruises' latest vessel will be one of the first to be prepared for future methanol and green methanol fuels, making its operation virtually climate-neutral.
Thanks to an innovative low-emission LNG fuel concept, a fuel cell system, and batteries, the Silver Nova will feature the best possible emissions reduction measures. Following years of research and development by the MEYER Group and fuel cell manufacturer Freudenberg, there is growing expectation that each component of the fuel cell system will successfully pass rigorous extreme temperature resistance tests and classification society certification trials for safe use on board ships.
The new construction already exceeds the strictest IMO requirements, which will only apply in the future, by 25% in the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI). A newly developed automated microgasification system (MAGS) converts onboard waste into thermal energy, in the spirit of the circular economy, further increasing the vessel's efficiency.
For the first time at Silversea, the Nova-class ships will feature a horizontal layout and an innovative asymmetrical design, with public spaces and suites extending the length of the vessel. Thanks to the expansive glass surfaces this allows on board, guests will experience an unprecedented openness of the ship to the water and its destinations.
The MEYER Group is showcasing what a cruise ship could look like in 2100. Externally, it features a closed glass facade, urban landscaping, and drone landing pads, while the central public areas are the focal point inside. Thanks to a cabin structure separate from the outer hull, efficient modular manufacturing methods are possible. “The vessel is based on global megatrends and is a logical response to them, though not the only one,” explains Tim Krug, Head of the Concept Development Group at the MEYER Group.
The energy concept on board is also based on innovation: thanks to the use of wave energy through horizontal wings on the hull, solar and fuel cells, as well as wind power, it manages without fossil fuels.
Even today, the MEYER Group is already demonstrating how sustainable materials can be used. The “Reverse” model, which will be shown for the first time at the trade fair, has been manufactured largely from sustainable materials. Ninety percent of the materials used are recycled or can be recycled without leaving any waste. Furthermore, the model already has a methanol-powered fuel cell to supply energy to its lighting. The MEYER Group's trade fair team is also using the system to charge smartphones and tablets.
