August 4, 2026 – Carnival Cruise Line tests a new form of automated hull cleaning on the Carnival Pride. Jotun's so-called HullSkater is remotely controlled and moves across the ship's hull, removing incipient marine growth below the waterline. A clean hull generates less resistance and can therefore reduce the ship's energy consumption.
Carnival Pride tests HullSkater robot for clean ship hull © Photo Carnival Cruise Line
The Carnival Pride is the first ship in the Carnival fleet to use Jotun's Hull Skating Solutions. During the pilot project, Carnival is collecting operational data and testing how reliably the technology can be integrated into ongoing ship operations.
The HullSkater pilot project at a glance
| Pilot ship | Carnival Pride |
|---|---|
| shipping company | Carnival Cruise Line |
| Technology | Jotun Hull Skating Solutions with HullSkater |
| Task | Inspection and preventative cleaning of the underwater hull |
| Controller | Remote operation with cameras and sensors |
| Location | The robot will remain permanently on board. |
| Objective | Less fouling, lower water resistance and more efficient ship operation |
| project status | Pilot phase and evaluation of operational data |
What is Carnival testing at Carnival Pride?
Carnival Cruise Line is testing an automated system that regularly inspects and cleans the underwater hull as needed. The HullSkater is permanently installed on the Carnival Pride and can be lowered into the water by the crew.
Once deployed, the device moves across the ship's hull. Cameras and sensors monitor the condition of the hull. If the system detects the beginning of fouling, specially designed brushes clean the affected areas.
The robot is designed to remove algae, slime, and other deposits before a thicker layer of growth can form. Carnival is thus shifting from reactive to preventative hull maintenance.
How does the Jotun HullSkater work?
The HullSkater is a remotely operated underwater vehicle for inspecting and cleaning ship hulls. Jotun combines the robot with a tailored coating system and digital monitoring of hull performance.
The manufacturer uses non-abrasive brushes. These are designed to remove light fouling without damaging the existing antifouling coating. Several cameras transmit images of the underwater hull. The resulting data can be stored and compared for later inspections.
The system requires no divers. Specialized operators can control the HullSkater remotely. Because all equipment remains on board, the ship can deploy the robot in port or at anchor.
Why does marine growth increase a ship's energy consumption?
Marine growth makes the surface of the ship's hull rougher. This increases the friction between the water and the outer hull. The ship needs more engine power to maintain its speed.
Carnival cites calculations indicating that marine growth can increase the power requirement of the propulsion system by up to 25 or 30 percent. At the same time, according to the shipping company, propulsion accounts for approximately 60 percent of a cruise ship's total energy consumption.
These figures do not represent any measured savings achieved by the Carnival Pride. Rather, they illustrate why shipping companies consider a clean underwater hull an important part of their energy management.
What does biofouling mean?
In the shipping industry, biofouling refers to the accumulation of aquatic organisms on permanently or temporarily submerged surfaces. These include, for example, mucus layers, algae, mussels, and barnacles.
The deposits not only increase water resistance. Ships can also transport attached organisms to other marine regions. There, individual species can spread and negatively impact native ecosystems.
The International Maritime Organization therefore recommends systematic biofouling management. This includes suitable coatings, regular inspections, and early and controlled cleaning.
What advantages does Carnival expect?
Carnival's primary goal is to determine whether the HullSkater can keep the hull consistently clean during normal ship operation. More frequent inspections should prevent the build-up of significant deposits.
A successful deployment could combine several advantages:
- less frictional resistance while driving,
- a lower energy requirement of the drive,
- lower fuel consumption,
- fewer emissions related to fuel consumption,
- regular images and condition data of the hull,
- Less labor-intensive cleaning measures in cases of heavy vegetation.
Whether and to what extent the Carnival Pride achieves these advantages will have to be shown during the pilot phase. Carnival is collecting operational data and experience from practical use for this purpose.
Why is regular cleaning better than a deep cleaning later on?
Preventive cleaning begins while the growth is still thin and easy to remove. Heavier deposits adhere more firmly and often require significantly more intensive cleaning methods.
Delayed underwater cleaning can also damage the hull's protective coating. Dissolved organisms, paint residues, and other substances must not be released uncontrolled into the harbor water. Therefore, ports and countries have different requirements for underwater cleaning operations.
The HullSkater takes a different approach: it is designed to care for the hull frequently and gently, instead of combining long cleaning intervals with extensive measures.
What is known about Carnival Pride?
The Carnival Pride belongs to Carnival Cruise Line's Spirit class. The ship measures 88.500 gross registered tons (GRT) and can accommodate approximately 2.134 guests based on double occupancy. Carnival states a crew of about 930.
With the HullSkater, the Carnival Pride takes on an additional role as a technical test vessel. It is the first ship in the Carnival Cruise Line fleet to test this solution in operation.
You can find more information about the parent company in the Portrait of Carnival Corporation & plc.
Is the HullSkater a solution for sustainable cruises?
Hull cleaning alone does not make a cruise ship climate-neutral. However, it can reduce the energy consumption of an existing ship without requiring a new propulsion system or extensive refit.
Such efficiency measures are particularly effective when shipping companies combine them with other technologies. These include adapted speed management, modern coatings, optimized routes, shore power, waste heat recovery, and lower-emission fuels.
The HullSkater attacks a fundamental physical factor: the less resistance a ship creates in the water, the less power it needs to achieve the same speed.
The article provides more background information. How sustainable are cruises really?.
What happens after the pilot project?
Carnival has not yet announced when the test phase will end or which other ships might receive the technology. The company is first evaluating the data collected on the Carnival Pride.
Carnival will likely examine, among other things, how frequently the robot is used, how reliably it reaches different areas of the hull, and whether changes in hull resistance and energy consumption can be detected.
Only after this evaluation can it be determined whether Carnival Cruise Line will transfer the HullSkater to other ships. The Carnival Pride thus serves as a practical test for a possible fleet-wide deployment.
Classification: Small measure with potential long-term effects
The HullSkater may seem less spectacular than a new ship propulsion system, but its strength lies in its regular use. A clean hull improves hydrodynamic properties during every trip, thus continuously saving energy.
The crucial factor remains the results Carnival achieves during the pilot phase. So far, the cruise line has not released any specific fuel consumption figures for the Carnival Pride. Therefore, any statements about a fixed fuel or CO₂ saving would be premature.
The project nevertheless shows that Carnival wants to improve the efficiency of its existing fleet in addition to building new ships. In parallel, the cruise line is developing... Carnival Destiny: A new generation of ships and is developing its destinations like Celebration Key on Grand Bahama further out.
Conclusion on the HullSkater at Carnival Pride
The Carnival Pride is testing the HullSkater, a technically interesting solution against fouling on the ship's hull. The remotely controlled robot inspects and cleans the outer hull underwater before algae and other organisms can form larger deposits.
A clean hull reduces water resistance and can lower the propulsion system's energy consumption. However, the extent of this effect on the Carnival Pride is not yet known. Carnival must first analyze the data from the ongoing pilot program.
If the system proves successful, the technology could also become interesting for other ships in the Carnival fleet. Especially for older and heavily used cruise ships, regular hull inspections offer a relatively quick way to improve operational efficiency.
Frequently asked questions about the HullSkater at Carnival Pride
What is the HullSkater?
The HullSkater is a remotely controlled underwater robot from the Norwegian manufacturer Jotun. It monitors the ship's hull with cameras and removes incipient fouling with special brushes.
Which Carnival ship is testing the HullSkater?
The Carnival Pride is the first ship in the Carnival Cruise Line fleet to test Jotun Hull Skating Solutions in operation.
Why does the hull of a cruise ship need to be cleaned?
Algae, mucus, mussels, and other deposits make the hull rougher. This increases water resistance, and the ship requires more energy for propulsion.
How much fuel does the Carnival Pride save thanks to the HullSkater?
Carnival has not yet released any specific savings figures. The cruise line is collecting operational data during the pilot phase and will only subsequently assess how significantly the HullSkater impacts energy consumption.
Does the HullSkater require divers?
No. The robot is remotely controlled. Cameras and sensors allow monitoring of the body, while operators control the device remotely.
Can Carnival use the HullSkater on other ships as well?
In principle, deployment on other ships is possible. However, Carnival has not yet confirmed an expansion to other fleet members. The company is first evaluating the pilot program on the Carnival Pride.
