Hurtigruten’s goal of operating an emission-free vessel on the Norwegian coast by 2030 is closer within reach thanks to the recent completion of a significant phase in its Sea Zero project. The project was revealed two years ago to the day.The groundbreaking initiative has successfully undergone rigorous testing at SINTEF Ocean’s facilities in Trondheim, Norway. Innovations such as large battery packs, retractable sails, air lubrication systems, contra-rotating propellers, and an energy-optimised hull are being carefully evaluated as part of the project.“We are learning a lot from these tests, and we now see that many of the ambitious goals in this project can also be implemented in practice,” said Gerry Larsson-Fedde, Chief Operating Officer at Hurtigruten.The ship’s design has been further refined following months of research and testing, now featuring a longer, lower, and more stable hull.Subscribe to LATTE Cruise’s free eNewsletter to keep up to date with everything in the luxury cruise space.The new design includes two retractable sails that can be raised or lowered as needed, offering potential energy savings of 10-15%, according to recent trials.Hurtigruten’s Sea Zero concept aims to reduce energy consumption by 40-50% compared to current ships, paving the way for the feasibility of zero-emission operations. “With the reduction in energy use we’re aiming for, it’s realistic to fit a battery system with enough energy to allow the ship to sail between charging ports under normal weather conditions,” said Trond Johnsen, Project Manager for Sea Zero.
Hurtigruten is collaborating with Norwegian research institute SINTEF and other industry leaders to fine-tune the design. “The model tests and analyses performed so far show encouraging results towards reducing the energy demand to the degree needed to enable zero emission operation,” said Anders Alterskjær, Research Manager at SINTEF Ocean.The Sea Zero project marks a major step in Hurtigruten’s commitment to sustainability, according to Hedda Felin, CEO. “For us to sail for 130 years more, we need to change the way we sail,” she said.
