World Explorer has become the first cruise ship to employ hydrojet technology to bring guests closer to marine wildlife by minimizing underwater noise, using a technology initially developed for naval warships.
Unlike propellers, the two onboard Schottel SPJ 82 Pump Jets create minimal vibration and cavitation and significantly decreases underwater noise. Sea life is highly sensitive to noise – which travels farther and louder in water – and tends to scatter when they hear propeller-only, propulsion ships.
Each hydrojet pumps water in and out to produce drive and, like azipods, can be directed 360-degrees in order to navigate the ship while moving slowly along shore lines at speeds up to five knots or dynamically position by GPS without the use of the ship’s twin four-blade propeller.
The system is being used on World Explorer and a sister ship World Voyager, launching in 2020. Both are chartered by Quark Expeditions in the winter and Germany’s Nicko Cruises in the summer.
Four other ships being built for Florida-based company Atlas Ocean Voyages, starting with World Navigator in mid-2021, will have the innovative system. The ships are all owned and chartered by Portuguese company Mystic Invest Holding.
“Our goal is to build one of the cleanest, safest and quietest ships in our category,” said Mário Ferreira, the holding company’s chairman. “We designed our cruise ships to bring our guests closer to and experience more of a destination, while ensuring that we do our part to help sustain these unparalleled places so we can bring future generations to enjoy them too.”
