Norwegian expedition cruise liner Hurtigruten is to power its ships with liquefied biogas (LBG), which includes organic waste from dead fish.
The company will be the first cruise line to power ships will fossil-free fuel. Biogas is already used in parts of the transport sector. Norway and Northern Europe have large fishery and forestry sectors, producing a steady volume of organic waste that can be utilised for marine propulsion.
The company has previously invested in batteries and other green technologies to reduce its environmental impact. It 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.
By 2021, Hurtigruten plans to operate at least 6 out of its 17 vessel fleet on a combination of biogas, LNG and large battery packs and expects to have invested US $850 million in innovation and green technologies.
