By
Alex Smith |
Virgin Voyages has taken delivery of its first ship, Scarlet Lady, from Fincantieri at the shipbuilder’s yard in Genoa, Italy. She has now left the shipyard and will be calling at the Port of Dover in the UK on 21 February, before sailing to Miami, US for her inaugural voyage, which departs on 18 March.
To mark the ship’s delivery, Virgin Voyages has committed to offsetting its direct emissions, making it the first cruise line to become carbon-neutral from its first day of commercial operation.
“It’s wonderful to welcome Scarlet Lady,” said Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group. “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.”
Scarlet Lady makes use of Climeon, a technology that uses heat produced by the ship’s engines to generate electricity and therefore reduce her demand for fuel. The technologies onboard the vessel ensure that she meets several international environmental standards, including the Gold Standard and Verified Carbon Standard.
“The ocean is our home, and we are on a mission to protect it,” said Tom McAlpin, CEO and president of Virgin Voyages. “The single-biggest threat facing our ocean is climate change, and we want to be part of the solution. We are committed to pioneering new technologies onboard and working with our industry peers to advance research and development for zero-carbon fuels.”