Karl WP Beyer 24.11.2022/2023/2024 – Silversea Cruises' fleet of eleven cruise ships continues to grow. With the start of production of the Silver Ray, MEYER Werft in Papenburg and Silversea Cruises celebrated the start of production of a second Nova Class ship. The Silver Nova, which is currently under construction, is expected to start service in August XNUMX. The Silver Ray will follow her in the summer of XNUMX.
The luxury brand of the Royal Caribbean Group sets standards in its market segment with its sister ships Silver Nova and Silver Ray. The ships, measured at 54.700 GT, can accommodate a maximum of 728 guests, and 556 crew members ensure their well-being on board. According to the shipyard, both ships set new standards for environmental protection in luxury expedition cruises thanks to a multitude of innovations. The shipyard declares the ships to be the most sustainable cruise ships in their class. With their innovative propulsion concept and further technical improvements, both newbuildings represent "a milestone on the way to a climate-neutral cruise".
Silver Nova - Rendering © Silversea Cruises
The ships are operated with low-emission LNG. They have a fuel cell system for the entire hotel operation as well as batteries. The combination of these features represents the best possible measures for reducing emissions. Both new buildings exceed the highest IMO requirements that will only apply in the future by 25 percent in the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI).
The fuel cell system with an output of 4 megawatts will be used in addition to the LNG-powered engines as the first large installation of this type in the cruise industry to power the ships. The fuel cells supply the entire hotel operations. In this way - in the absence of shore power systems - pollutant emissions are completely avoided during lay times in port. A battery system also increases the efficiency of the ship by absorbing peak loads. Fuel consumption is significantly reduced. In addition, a newly developed Micro Auto Gasification System converts onboard waste into thermal energy. This technical solution also increases the efficiency of the ship.
The Nova class ships feature a horizontal layout and an innovative asymmetrical design. The public rooms and suites stretch the entire length of the ship.