Hurtigruten Norway has launched its first fully upgraded battery-hybrid powered ship, Richard With.

The ship – the first of seven in the Coastal Express fleet to be upgraded– has been retrofitted with battery packages and new engines and propulsion systems.

In addition, the hull has been optimised to reduce drag and a new wastewater treatment will help to reduce emissions to sea, Hurtigruten said. The cruise line will also use certified biofuels to cut CO2 emissions.

All seven Hurtigruten Norway ships will also be fitted with systems to cut NOx emissions by 80 per cent before the end of summer 2023. 

The work is part of a €100 million upgrade programme.

Hurtigruten pushing for emission-free ships

Hurtigruten Norway CEO Hedda Felin said: “With Richard With back in operations as a fully upgraded ship, guests can sail the Norwegian coast on a quieter, state-of-the-art, and environmentally friendly ship, while enjoying a traditional experience unlike anything in the world. 

“Becoming a green company means investing in efforts with documented effects, such as the ones we are doing now.

“As a result, by next summer, we will have three upgraded hybrid ships sailing the coast, and our entire fleet will be more energy efficient, cutting CO2 emissions by 25 per cent and NOx by 80 per cent.

“Our goal is to get to zero emissions, and the work to plan the next-generation zero emission vessels has already started.

“Until that technology has been pioneered, we are investing heavily in giving our existing fleet a green upgrade with the best technology available today, but our plan is to have the first emission-free ship in our fleet by 2030, and we’re working hard on achieving that.”