Silversea Cruises unveiled the name of its first ship, Silver Nova, which is developed as part of the line's innovative newbuild project popular as Project Evolution, as well as the start of the ship’s building at Meyer Werft in Papenburg (Germany Lower Saxony).
Silver Nova is scheduled for delivery in summer 2023.
Silversea and Meyer Werft executives marked the occasion with an official steel-cutting ceremony held on November 18, 2021. The new-class boat will be the first hybrid, luxury cruiser free of in-port emissions, positioning the company at the forefront of sustainable cruising.
With her hybrid power sources, Silver Nova is due to achieve a cruise industry-first – emission-free operation in port via using fuel cells and batteries. The vessel will use LNG (liquefied natural gas) as her main fuel. The hybrid technology not only helps in port but will allow Silver Nova to achieve a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions per double suite in comparison with the previous (Muse) class of ships.
Sustainable features of Silver Nova and future Nova class cruise ships include a micro auto gasification system, reducing onboard waste volume, which results in lower incineration emissions. The new ship class is also projected to achieve an EEDI (Energy Efficiency Design Index) rating of ~25% better than applicable IMO (International Maritime Organization) requirements. Shore power is to allow the vessel to shut down the main generators at select ports of call and plug into the onshore energy supply, thus cutting onboard local emissions to zero. The ground-breaking hydrodynamic design and optimized innovation technology lessen the impact on the environment.
Silver Nova is expected to be one of the most spacious cruise ships ever constructed and will offer guests an ultra-luxurious experience including a space-to-passenger ratio of 75 GRT-per-guest – the highest in Silversea’s fleet – featuring one of the most personalized services at sea with a 1:1.3 crew-to-passenger ratio, as well as butler services for all suites. The newbuild will have a capacity of 728 passengers and GT-gross tonnage (volume) 54700 tons.
Members of Silversea’s loyalty program, Venetian Society, and travel advisors receive pre-sale access starting December 16. General sales open on January 6, 2022.