For cruisers concerned about the quality of air, the transmission of aerosol particles and the air conditioning systems on cruise ships, Royal Caribbean Group, in partnership with the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the National Research Institute, has announced the release of an independent study on the transmission of aerosol particles through the HVAC system on a cruise ship.
The study is the first-of-its-kind for the industry, with scientists concluding that the transmission of aerosol particles between spaces via the HVAC system is exceptionally low and undetectable both in the air and on surfaces.
The University of Nebraska Medical Center – which was commissioned by the Group and has a longstanding history of specialising in the study of airborne particles – spent time understanding the ins-and-outs of air flow on Oasis of the Seas in July 2020 while the ship was alongside in Miami, with the study’s findings helped inform the Healthy Sail Panel’s 74 detailed best practices for the healthy return to sailing, which were submitted in September 2020 in response to a CDC request for public comment.
Why does this matter?
Well, Royal Caribbean’s HVAC systems were intentionally designed to maximise ventilation, continual fresh air intake and filtration prior to the pandemic, with these systems continuously bringing in ocean air through one side of the ship, filtering it multiple times before it reaches staterooms and public areas, and maximize ventilation in every space for frequent air changes.
The air is filtered again before it is exhausted from the opposite side of the ship., with As a result, the system in place was already designed to reduce transmission of airborne diseases.
What’s next is that Royal Caribbean is implementing additional layers of precaution to further minimize the possibility of COVID-19 transmission onboard by adjusting shipboard settings to allow for the maximum air changes per hour – twice more what is recommended for land-based venues by ASHRAE — and upgrading to MERV 13 filters throughout the system, with in addition, the Group already equipped its medical facilities with an independent ventilations system and has added HEPA filters for additional precaution.
The team of five medical scientists specializing in bioaerosols, led by Josh Santarpia, PhD., associate professor, pathology and microbiology, UNMC; and research director, chemical and biological programs, NSRI – were called on to understand in detail the role of HVAC systems in spreading airborne particles on cruise ships. The study specifically explored the effectiveness and efficiency of ship air management strategies – ventilation, filtration and supply – and examined air flow across different areas of the ship, including guest staterooms, crew staterooms, lounges and other public spaces.
Researchers found the transmission of aerosol particles between spaces, through the ventilation system, to be undetectable on surfaces and in the air, with a leader in modern cruise ship design, Royal Caribbean Group has long been at the forefront of the industry’s latest innovations and advancements; and so, the existing HVAC systems were created to be robust and efficient in providing maximum ventilation, continual fresh air intake and layers of filtration for both incoming and outgoing air.
Royal Caribbean Group is applying the recommendations of its Healthy Sail Panel of public health and scientific experts to provide a safer and healthier cruise vacation on all of its sailings. Health and safety protocols, regional travel restrictions and clearance to visit ports of call, are subject to change based on ongoing evaluation, public health standards, and government requirements. U.S. cruises and guests.
A report by John Alwyn-Jones
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