HURTIGRUTEN’S Sea Zero project (CW 08 Jun 2023), the line’s journey to building its first zero-emission ship, will be key to its efforts to achieve net zero, ahead of the introduction of stricter cruise regulations in Norway from 2026 (CW 18 Jan).
Although Sea Zero is based on technology which does currently exist, Chief Executive Officer Hedda Felin told Cruise Weekly construction on the ship, which is being co-funded by the Norwegian government, has not begun yet.
Building will need to begin by 2028 for her 2030 timeline to be realised, following the phasing out of traditional marine fuel from Norway’s World Heritage Listed fjords from 2026.
Despite this, the Sea Zero project is “progressing as it should”, Felin reported.
“Construction is not decided yet, it has some, I [wouldn’t] say barriers, but dependencies to make it possible,” she said.
“We need more powerful power stations along the coast, so that’s a discussion with individual governments,” Felin said.
“The partners are selected, feasibility studies and all technology has been tested and proven, concepts and models are designed, we need to start building,” she added.
Felin has backed her line’s position of more regulations on the Norwegian cruise industry (CW yesterday), admitting she would personally like to see even stricter management along the entire Norwegian coast.
She said Hurtigruten will be prepared once the stricter regulations commence their roll-out, however Sea Zero will be key to ensuring this readiness.
The project started as a mission to see what is possible with current technology, and what it will take to reach net-zero.
Felin said all ideas were on the table at the start, including nuclear, wind, hydrogen, and ammonia, among others.
The project will be completed transparently, Felin added, in hopes of inspiring the industry.
Hurtigruten’s hybrid retrofitting plan (CW 23 Sep 2022) is also going well, with one ship remaining to be modified.
“We’re very pleased with the project execution; we only have one ship left this year and then the entire fleet has been done,” Felin said.
“The ships will last for 10-20 more years because of the energy efficiency measures.
“The fuel savings have been amazing, and then we’ll integrate biofuel also,” she enthused. MS