A team of more than 30 engineers have designed a ship that “draws from nature in both form and function.” That comment comes from a NGO (non-government organization) Peace Boat spokesman who is about to introduce the world’s first ‘green’ cruise ship at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris this month. The ship’s beauty and efficiency is based on mimicking marine life.

The company based out of Japan expects the Ecoship to make her maiden voyage in 2020. She will have an aerodynamic hull, replicating the shape of a humpback whale and will be coated with a non-toxic anti-fouling substance, much like the skin of fish. Her most redeeming features will be the ten retractable sails covered in solar panels.

A closed-loop water system will ensure that all waste water is purified and repurposed, combined with rain and seawater for nourishing the garden on board. According to their website,” the Ecoship will feature a microscale combined heat and power generation system and an advanced, low consumption HVAC system using waste energy from the main engines, maximising the use of waste energy re-use through exhaust gas boilers, auxiliary turbo generators and an additional steam generator system.” “The Ecoship represents a radical shift in the way we address our energy needs,” said the designers. “Unlike even the current best in market, the Ecoship will meet its core hotel and propulsion energy needs with renewable energy, using Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as a top-up energy source, thereby minimising our dependence on fossil fuels.”

The designers promise clean - and that means “zero air emissions, zero NOx and SOx emissions as well as no sea dumping.” Yoshioka Tatsuya, founder and director of Peace Boat said the industry must adapt to the planet’s needs.” A CLIA spokesperson said of the announcement, "Being environmentally conscious and proactive is not just a need for the industry, it’s a deep desire that is fundamental to how we do business. From the most stringent wastewater treatment policies in the global maritime community to continuous reductions in air emissions, CLIA members work with regulators and various industry stakeholders to deliver on their commitment to the environment.”