Key Aspects:
- Carnival Cruise Line will begin employing a new hull-cleaning vehicle, designed by Norwegian company Jotun.
- The vehicle, called the HullSkater, allows for remote monitoring and cleaning of a ship’s hull from below the water.
- Carnival Pride is the first ship to test the technology, with plans to expand to more of the fleet if it proves beneficial.
Carnival Cruise Line is taking further steps towards more sustainable cruising. The cruise line’s parent company, Carnival Corporation & plc, has pledged to be carbon-neutral by 2050 and has already made significant strides.
In its latest move towards that goal, Carnival has partnered with Jotun, a marine coatings and hull performance solutions company out of Norway. Carnival will introduce Jotun’s HullSkater device aboard the 88,500 gross-ton Carnival Pride.
The HullSkater is a remotely operated robotic vehicle that inspects and cleans the ship’s hull. Over time, rust and marine growth such as barnacles can accumulate on the bottom of a cruise ship.
While modern ships are equipped with special paints and coatings that help to minimize these issues, they do not eliminate them entirely. Regular hull cleaning and maintenance are essential to keep everything clean and safe. The crew can often be seen washing and cleaning the hull during port times.
However, a full hull cleaning is a laborious, manual process reserved for when a ship enters dry dock. Cruise Hive recently reported on Carnival Pride‘s own 22-day dry dock, during which the ship received many new enhancements, as well as general maintenance, including hull cleaning.
The HullSkater, meanwhile, can be deployed underwater, meaning this essential maintenance can happen more frequently and thoroughly while the ship is docked in port. The system uses cameras and sensors to travel along the hull of the ship, assess conditions, and clean as necessary.
This will help Carnival to remove any marine growth on Carnival Pride’s hull before it accumulates. Jari Oinas, AVP of fuel performance and decarbonization at Carnival, expressed excitement for the new technology.
“Maintaining a clean hull is essential for efficient ship operations, and the Hull Skating Solutions allows us to take a more proactive approach to hull maintenance,” said Oinas.
The concept is similar to the “grooming robot” employed by Royal Caribbean, first introduced aboard the 250,800 gross-ton Icon of the Seas. While that robot was not designed by Jotun, it employs a similar approach to proactive hull maintenance.
Carnival Pride is the first ship in Carnival’s fleet to employ the new technology. However, Carnival plans to collect operational data to assess the viability of incorporating it across more of the fleet.
How This New Technology Aids Sustainability Efforts
Much like how a more aerodynamic car improves fuel efficiency, the same is true of ships. Marine growth on a ship’s hull introduces some extra weight and drag, decreasing the ship’s efficiency.
According to Carnival, marine growth can increase a ship’s propulsion power demand by up to 25–30%. The cruise line further reports that propulsion accounts for approximately 60% of a vessel’s total energy consumption.
By performing more regular cleanings of the ship’s hull, Carnival hopes to increase Carnival Pride’s efficiency and decrease fuel consumption. Carnival has been making strides to improve sustainability in its operations in recent years.
Carnival Cruise Line has made headway in expanding the use of LNG power across its fleet. This began with the 180,800 gross-ton Mardi Gras in 2020 and has since expanded to 11 total ships. Seven additional ships are planned to utilize LNG power by 2033.
According to Carnival Corporation’s 2025 Sustainability Report, the company has achieved an over 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 2019. Sustainability-enabling technologies like the HullSkater could play an important role in helping the company achieve its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
