Carnival Pride becomes first cruise ship to use robotic hull cleaning

Carnival Cruise Line has equipped the Carnival Pride with Jotun's Hull Skating Solution, a robotic system that cleans hulls underwater. The pilot could cut fuel use and emissions while avoiding biosecurity issues.

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Carnival Cruise Line has signed an agreement with the Norwegian coatings company Jotun to equip one of its vessels with a robotic hull-cleaning system. The Carnival Pride is the first ship in the Carnival fleet, and the first cruise ship overall, to use Jotun's Hull Skating Solution (HSS).

The system relies on a remotely operated vehicle called the HullSkater, which works underwater. It uses cameras and sensors to inspect the hull and performs cleaning as it moves along the surface. Keeping the hull free of marine growth matters because such growth can raise the power needed for propulsion by 25 to 30 percent. Since propulsion accounts for roughly 60 percent of a cruise ship's total energy consumption, even modest gains in efficiency can have a noticeable effect on fuel use and emissions.

The agreement covers more than just the robotic cleaning itself. It includes a compatible hull coating, continuous monitoring, hull inspections, digital reporting, and a guarantee that the hull will remain clean. Jotun says it has received independent verification from DNV confirming that vessels using HSS show no measurable speed loss while keeping the hull clean.

Carnival Pride is currently serving as a pilot ship, collecting operational data. The company says it will assess the results before deciding whether to roll the technology out to the rest of its fleet.

Jari Oinas, senior vice president for marine at Jotun, said: "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." He added: "As we evaluate the technology aboard Carnival Pride, we see strong potential to support ship performance while advancing our long-term sustainability goals."

Stein Kjølberg, Jotun's executive vice president for marine, said: "Carnival is demonstrating real leadership by embracing new technology that ensures consistently clean hulls and reduced environmental impact." He also noted the company's long history: "With our 100-year long track record in hull performance, and with presence in the US for over 50 years, we are proud to support an American icon that is both ambitious and forward‑leaning."

The move also addresses a practical concern: New Zealand biosecurity rules have previously turned away cruise ships with unclean hulls, so keeping the hull clean can help avoid such disruptions.