Rolls-Royce designs new hybrid Hurtigruten cruise ships

Michelle

30 December 2017

As you could read earlier in my article about Geiranger, I have a pretty strong opinion about cruise ships. Not only are they HUGELY bad for the environment (one cruise ship pollutes as much per day as one million cars!), they also spoil the view of picturesque little villages. But if we’re to believe Hurtigruten, the most popular cruise line in Scandinavia, that’s about to change! In the summer of 2019 they will start sailing with hybrid cruise ships. Construction of the MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen is currently in full swing at the Kleven shipyard in Ulsteinvik.

The MS Roald Amundsen will be the first to be launched in 2018 and will make voyages to Antarctica, among other places. In 2019 the MS Fridtjof Nansen will follow suit and sail from Amsterdam, here in the Netherlands where I live, to Svalbard.

Progressive design meets lower CO2 emissions

None other than Rolls-Royce is the brain behind the design and has equipped the ships with every comfort. They have room for no fewer than 530 travelers, who can enjoy an infinity pool, a jacuzzi, cabins with balconies and three restaurants inspired by polar history during their voyage. On top of that, guests are treated to all kinds of gadgets that provide information about everything there is to see along the way.

Sustainability was one of the most important starting points during the design phase. As a result, the two vessels will be equipped with hybrid engines that can propel the entire ship over long distances. The auxiliary engine has 20% lower CO2 emissions compared to the old ships.

One small step for men..

Every year Hurtigruten accounts for 14%(!) of tourism in Norway and provides thousands of jobs along the Norwegian coast. So this green step forward is a huge big deal. Not just for the environment, but also for the tourism industry. Climate change has been a sore point for decades, and it’s clearly visible in many places, especially in the far north. It was high time that a big name like Hurtigruten set a good example.

I will never be a fan of floating apartment buildings that spoil my view of a beautiful fjord. But I am happy and relieved that Hurtigruten is going the (more) environmentally friendly route with this development. That way we can all keep enjoying, in our own way, all the beauty that Mother Nature has to offer us. And in the end, that’s what it’s all about.