The ceremony was attended, among others, by the President and CEO of Virgin Voyages Tom McAlpin, by the Governor of the Liguria Region Giovanni Toti, by the Mayor of Genoa Marco Bucci, welcomed by the Chairman of Fincantieri Giampiero Massolo, and its CEO Giuseppe Bono.
“It’s wonderful to welcome Scarlet Lady today,” says Virgin Group Founder Sir Richard Branson. “I’m so proud that as we start this exciting journey, we also bring to life Virgin Voyages’ commitment to preserving the ocean and the first of many steps towards a net zero carbon future.”
The brand has recognized that climate change is an urgent, global issue for every industry and business. Like others, Virgin Voyages’ long-term ambition is a net-zero carbon future. This will require significant advancements in technology and infrastructure, and access to solutions that remain in development. And, Virgin Voyages is committed to working with the industry to support the necessary research and development to advance carbon-free fuels and to scale commercially viable solutions.
The new ship is 110,000 tons, 278 meters long and 38 meters wide. A second ship, the Valiant Lady, follows in 2021 while more sister ships come in 2022 and 2023. The ships all feature over 1,400 guest cabins designed to host more than 2,770 passengers, accompanied by 1,160 crew members onboard to deliver Virgin service.
Particular attention was paid to energy recovery, with cutting-edge technologies that reduce the ship’s overall environmental impact. For example, Scarlet Lady is equipped with an energy production system of approximately 1 MW that uses the diesel engines’ waste heat.
When it comes to reducing emissions, a scrubber system cuts sulfur dioxides from exhaust, and a catalytic converter lowers nitrogen oxides. The hull’s hydrodynamic design diminishes drag and, consequently, fuel consumption. Energy-saving LED lights are used throughout.