Interior design firm YSA Design is working to improve sustainable cruise ship design. Here, its chairman Trond Sigurdsen explains how this work benefits cruise lines and, by extension, passengers.

Wherever one stands on environmental issues, there is no disputing that it’s warmer out there. On average, the last five years (2014-2019) have been the warmest recorded in the 139 years since the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration started counting.

Melting glaciers, rising sea levels and coastal communities under threat shape attitudes and as such, sustainability is now a key business driver in cruise. With expedition ships pushing further into the most vulnerable areas of the world, energy saving, emissions reduction, waste management and even materials chosen for use now influence guest booking choices.

Of course, environmental responsibility is a core value for YSA Design, but it is important to understand what this means today in relation to our cruise ship clients, shipyards and subcontractors.

While not a naval architecture or marine engineering company itself, YSA Design was one of the first design companies to work with owners and shipyards on integrating liquefied natural gas propulsion in a cruise ship.

Again, with CO2 emissions banned in Norwegian World Heritage fjords from 2026, one of the most challenging parts of the work focuses on interior spaces that best fit hybrid propulsion solutions, including battery power.

However, it does go beyond adapting to the work of others. For example, in line with the brand values of our customers, our materials selection favours lower carbon footprint methods, avoids those involving toxic emissions and prefers recyclable products.

Guest benefits

We are also proactive in our approach. Proposals include the deployment of photovoltaic technology on ships to capture energy that would otherwise be lost. In a recent project, we suggested covering penthouse suite roofs with solar panels, with a view to persuading premium guests to pay a moderate supplement for lower carbon accommodation, on the same basis that some agree to offset air miles.

We certainly believe that environmental sensitivities are as significant a brand issue for cruise companies as they are for airlines. It is now a matter of routine for YSA Design to provide elegant solutions so that bike-work in the gym can be converted into phone charging, for example.

But environmental benefits can also be experienced by cruise guests, whether they notice them or not. We are making specific proposals to improve air quality in ship interiors, using technology that replaces fixed-rate ventilation with more efficient sensor-based and active air cleaning methods.

In short, YSA Design’s role in sustainable design is increasingly becoming that of the integrator, with the critical awareness of interiors to meet brand needs and imperatives set by naval architects, marine engineers, shipyards and contractors.

Visit ysa.design for more information.