Amid increasingly stringent global maritime regulations—notably the International Maritime Organization (IMO) GHG Strategy and the European Union’s “Fit for 55” package —the cruise industry faces an imperative transition toward deep decarbonization. As "floating cities" with exceptionally high energy profiles, cruise ships present unique challenges; their stationary hotel loads can account for over 50% of total power consumption during port calls. This thesis investigates the transformation of ports from passive logistics nodes into active, zero-carbon energy hubs to bridge the identified "Power Gap" in shore-to-ship power (STS) and the "Fuel Gap" for future zero-carbon propulsion. The research adopts an interdisciplinary methodology—integrating engineering design, spatial planning, and policy analysis—and proposes a "Dual-Track" Energy Hub Model based on geographic endowments: • Integrated Urban Adaptation Model (Genoa):Focuses on embedding renewable energy technologies, such as Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWT) and Resonant Wave Energy Converters (REWEC3), into existing maritime infrastructure like breakwaters. This model prioritizes "landscape symbiosis" in spaceconstrained urban port environments. • Industrial Scale & Energy Export Model (Shanghai): Leverages vast maritime territories to deploy large-scale floating offshore wind farms and photovoltaic systems. This model emphasizes scaled green energy production to meet massive shore power demands and achieve regional green hydrogen energy exports. Quantitative verification through Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) demonstrates that both pathways are technically and environmentally feasible. Results indicate that lifecycle carbon intensity can be reduced by over 90%, with an Energy Payback Time (EPBT) of less than 3 years in both cases. Furthermore, the thesis evaluates the integration of alternative fuels, selecting green hydrogen and methanol as the primary energy vectors for cruise shipping while excluding ammonia due to stringent passenger safety constraints. Finally, the study concludes with the "Adaptive Pathways" Theory, advocating for differentiated decarbonization strategies that harmonize industrial scalability with ecological restoration. This research provides a scientific roadmap for the sustainable evolution of global maritime infrastructure.
TOWARDS A LOWCARBON FUTURE FOR CRUISE SHIPS: DESIGN AND INTEGRATION OF ZERO-EMISSION SOLUTIONS AT PORT
GAO, LEI
2026-07-28
Abstract
Amid increasingly stringent global maritime regulations—notably the International Maritime Organization (IMO) GHG Strategy and the European Union’s “Fit for 55” package —the cruise industry faces an imperative transition toward deep decarbonization. As "floating cities" with exceptionally high energy profiles, cruise ships present unique challenges; their stationary hotel loads can account for over 50% of total power consumption during port calls. This thesis investigates the transformation of ports from passive logistics nodes into active, zero-carbon energy hubs to bridge the identified "Power Gap" in shore-to-ship power (STS) and the "Fuel Gap" for future zero-carbon propulsion. The research adopts an interdisciplinary methodology—integrating engineering design, spatial planning, and policy analysis—and proposes a "Dual-Track" Energy Hub Model based on geographic endowments: • Integrated Urban Adaptation Model (Genoa):Focuses on embedding renewable energy technologies, such as Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWT) and Resonant Wave Energy Converters (REWEC3), into existing maritime infrastructure like breakwaters. This model prioritizes "landscape symbiosis" in spaceconstrained urban port environments. • Industrial Scale & Energy Export Model (Shanghai): Leverages vast maritime territories to deploy large-scale floating offshore wind farms and photovoltaic systems. This model emphasizes scaled green energy production to meet massive shore power demands and achieve regional green hydrogen energy exports. Quantitative verification through Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) demonstrates that both pathways are technically and environmentally feasible. Results indicate that lifecycle carbon intensity can be reduced by over 90%, with an Energy Payback Time (EPBT) of less than 3 years in both cases. Furthermore, the thesis evaluates the integration of alternative fuels, selecting green hydrogen and methanol as the primary energy vectors for cruise shipping while excluding ammonia due to stringent passenger safety constraints. Finally, the study concludes with the "Adaptive Pathways" Theory, advocating for differentiated decarbonization strategies that harmonize industrial scalability with ecological restoration. This research provides a scientific roadmap for the sustainable evolution of global maritime infrastructure.
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