‘Our goal is to operate all our ships and all our cruises completely emission-free,’ said Daniel Skjeldam, CEO, Hurtigruten Group. ‘While we get one step closer day by day, we cannot sit idle and wait for the technology to be in place.
‘We are working closely with our partners to drive change, move boundaries, while at the same time utilising the best solutions available already, today.’
Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express CEO Hedda Felin added, ‘We are cutting CO2 emissions along the Norwegian coast by at least a quarter. And most importantly, we are laying the foundation for introducing new and even more efficient environmental solutions…’
Introduction of hybrid power
Richard With, Nordlys and Kong Harald will be upgraded to facilitate battery-hybrid power, with installation of new low-emission engines and large battery packs.
Norway’s Myklebust yard will work on the first battery-hybrid upgrade, following their partnership with Kongsberg Maritime (KM,) which has been awarded the three-ship hybrid conversion contract.
Commenting on the work, Egil Haugsdal, president, Kongsberg Maritime said it is ‘one of the largest environmental vessel upgrade projects that has been done in Europe.’
Hurtigruten Expeditions has already launched battery-hybrid-powered cruise ships, Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen.
Finnmarken will be transformed to the battery-hybrid powered expedition cruise ship Otto Sverdrup this spring, with large battery packs and advanced green technology.
Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express vessels are already fitted with shore-power connectivity.
Hurtigruten Expeditions trialling biofuel
Hurtigruten Expeditions will begin trials with biofuel on selected ships and selected itineraries sometime this year.
Certified biofuel will be used across the Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express fleet, when its seven ships return to operations this summer.
Long list of environmental upgrades by 2023
Hurtigruten Group has pledged to make a series of investments in sustainability and green technology; it claims that significant green upgrades across the Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express fleet will be made by 2023.
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