Hurtigruten will become the first cruise line in the world to power their cruise ships with dead fish and other organic waste.
With a growing fleet of 17 cruise ships, Hurtigruten is the world’s largest expedition cruise line. The company has invested heavily in green technology and such as battery solutions – and is considered the world’s greenest cruise company.
The next step: Powering cruise ships with liquified biogas (LBG) – fossil-free, renewable gas produced from dead fish and other organic waste.
What other see as a problem, we see as a resource and a solution. By introducing biogas as fuel for cruise ships, Hurtigruten will be the first cruise company to power ships with fossile-free fuel, Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam says.
Renewable biogas is a clean source of energy, considered the most eco-friendly fuel currently available. Biogas is already used as fuel in small parts of the transport sector, especially in buses. Northern Europe and Norway, which has large fishery and forestry sectors that produces a steady volume of organic waste, has a unique opportunity to become world leader in biogas production.
By 2021, Hurtigruten plans to operate at least 6 of its ships on a combination of biogas, LNG and large battery packs.
While competitors are running on cheap, polluting heavy fuel oil, our ships will literally be powered by nature. Biogas is the greenest fuel in shipping, and will be a huge advantage for the environment. We would love other cruise companies to follow, Skjeldam says.
Cutting plastic – building hybrid
After celebrating the 125-year anniversary by being the first cruise line to ban single-use plastic, 2019 will mark two green milestones for Hurtigruten:
Introduction of the world’s first battery-hybrid powered cruise ship, MS Roald Amundsen, custom built for sustainable operations in some of the world’s most pristine waters such as Antarctica.
The start of a large-scale green upgrade project, replacing traditional diesel propulsion with battery packs and gas engines on several Hurtigruten ships.
Investing 850 million USD in innovation and green tech
Hurtigruten is currently building three hybrid powered expedition cruise ships at Norway’s Kleven Yard. MS Roald Amundsen, MS Fridtjof Nansen and the third, unnamed sister, will be delivered in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Hurtigruten expects to invest more than 850 million USD in building the world’s greenest cruise line.
This is just the beginning. Hurtigruten is the world’s largest expedition cruise line, that comes with a responsibility. Sustainability will be a key driver for the new era of shipping and the travel industry. Hurtigruten’s unmatched investments in green technology and innovation sets a new standard for the whole industry to follow. Our ultimate goal is to operate our ships completely emission free, Skjeldam says.
