Hurtigruten Norway to cut emissions by 25 per cent

Hurtigruten Group has announced a large-scale green upgrade of the entire fleet of Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express ships by 2023, by investing in biofuel and hybrid batteries.

The result will be a 25 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions, and NOx emissions will be cut by 80 per cent – slated as one of the largest environmental updates in the history of European shipping.

All seven ships have already been fitted with shore-power connectivity, which eliminates all emissions when connected in port. Three ships will now undergo a full transformation into battery-hybrid power, installing new low-emission engines and large battery packs.

Then, as Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express returns the fleet to operation this summer, certified biofuel will be introduced throughout.

“This is one of the largest environmental vessel upgrade projects that has been done in Europe,” said President Egil Haugsdal of Kongsberg Maritime (KM), which has been awarded the three-ship hybrid conversion contract.

“For us, it’s rewarding to work with a company which shares our ambitious approach to technology and environmental issues.”

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Hurtigruten Group has a good track record of green innovation in the cruise industry. Its expedition cruise line, Hurtigruten Expeditions, has launched the world’s first battery-hybrid-powered cruise ships and will start trials with biofuel in 2021. In 2018, the group became the first cruise line to ban single-use plastics.

“Our goal is to operate all our ships and all our cruises completely emission-free,” said Hurtigruten Group CEO Daniel Skjeldam.

“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 do drive change, move boundaries while we at the same time utilise the best solutions available already today.”