Japan-based international non-profit NGO Peace Boat has inked a letter of intent (LOI) with Finnish shipbuilding company Arctech Helsinki Shipyard for the construction of Ecoship , “the world’s greenest cruise vessel” .
The agreement was signed at Nor-Shipping 2017 in Oslo on May 30.
“We have agreed with Arctech to build the Ecoship, the most innovative and ecologically friendly cruise vessel ever. We believe this ship will be a game changer for the shipping industry and will contribute to the protection of the environment. It will be a flagship for climate change,” Yoshioka Tatsuya, Director and Founder of Peace Boat , commented.
“We are very excited to work with Peace Boat in the construction of this very special vessel… Ecoship will combine Arctech’s know-how in technically advanced and environmentally friendly vessels with the expertise of the Finnish shipbuilding network in designing and building of high-class cruise vessels,” Esko Mustamaki, CEO of Arctech Helsinki Shipyard , pointed out.
As disclosed, a final contract for the 2,000-passenger and 750-cabin 60,000 gross ton vessel is expected to be signed shortly. The new ship, which will have a length of 224 meters and a width of 31 meters, is scheduled for delivery in spring 2020.
Designed by Spanish company Oliver Design, Ecoship will be the platform for Peace Boat’s round-the-world cruise carrying 6,000 people per year. The ship will host exhibitions on green technology in up to 100 ports per year and serve as a floating sustainability laboratory contributing to research on the ocean, climate and green marine technology.
With Ecoship, the organization intends to address climate action via the responsibilities of maritime transport in carbon reduction and in preventing oceans and coastal areas degradation.