Hurtigruten look to develop hybrid explorer ships

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The Norwegian cruise line, Hurtigruten, has confirmed its ambition to offer expedition voyages on ships powered by battery technology and algae fuel. “The cruise and the maritime transport industries must accept greater environmental responsibility. Hurtigruten is already strongly committed. Rapid progress also requires appropriate political framework and the obligation from the maritime sector as a whole”, says Hurtigruten’s CEO Daniel Skjeldam from the Paris climate change conference. To deliver what has been achieved for instance in the car sector in recent years, he calls for brave and innovative politicians. “We need political carrots and sticks to stimulate the market in utilising green technology.” Hurtigruten has recently partnered with the Bellona Foundation, a Norwegian leading international environmental NGO, to explore how the vision of offering zero emission explorer cruises may materialise. “We consider Hurtigruten’s reach-out to be a very credible and inspiring expression of their willingness to contribute to achieving the objective of emission-free global shipping and sea travel” says Bellona President Frederic Hauge. The foundation is working alongside Hurtigruten to conduct a feasibility study to learn more about how the current fleet can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and how in future Hurtigruten hybrid ships can be developed. Karnail Gill, International Sales of New Global Markets commented “These are exciting times for Hurtigruten. We are an ambitious business with plans for growth, but our goal is to work with the industry to deliver that in a sustainable and responsible way.”

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