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Expedition cruises - HURTIGRUTEN announces new polar expedition vessels to operate with fully Hybrid Technology

The new HURTIGRUTEN 530 passenger expedition cruise ships will operate with Hybrid Technology. This environmentally-friendly technology make the new vessels the first to use.
by Earl of Cruise 
hybrid technology for Hurtigruten
Rendering courtesy by HURTIGRUTEN
The announcement comes in time as the discussion about the carbon footprint of cruise vessels is growing, and concerns about the air pollution is rising, despite TIER III and the comming TIER IV. The Chanel, the North Sea and the Baltic Sea is a TIER III area since January 2016. Same is for the 200sm region of shore Northern America. And Antarctica is TIER III regulated since 2013.
With this the ships will reduce fuel consumption by approximately 20 percent.
The as-yet-unnamed HURTIGRUTEN ships, their launching is in July 2018 and July 2019, are specifically designed to traverse the waters of the Arctic and Antarctic, and will become the world's first expedition ships with hybrid propulsion. The new technology has been developed by ROLLS ROYCE and BELLONA, a non-profit organisation that works to address climate challenges.
This technology makes even the cleanest non hybrid driven ships to dinosaures or perhaps stone age technology.
The turbo electric propulsion system once introduced in the 1930s can´t be compared with in any way ...
Norway is suporting enviromantal friendly technology since years, despite their vast oil and gas fields in the North Sea. So Norway is supporting via its state owned NOX FUNDS the development of eletric cars, and arranges reload stations, as well the buyers of electric cars with tax refunds.
Rendering courtesy by HURTIGRUTEN
Shipbuilders and owners are supported by the NOX FUNDS with very low interest loans, which combined with the GIEK, state owned financing bank, will provide shipowners with cheap money. But the construction has to be done in Norway.
HURTIGRUTEN CEO Daniel Skjeldam said:
"The future of shipping is, without a doubt, silent and emission free. We will use our new expeditionary ships as groundbreakers for this new technology and show the world that hybrid propulsion on large ships is possible, today. To be able to sail using only electrical power is not only a great benefit for the environment, but it will also enhance the impact of experiencing nature for the guests. Picture sailing into a fjord silently without any form of emissions."
This follows the news that HURTIGRUTEN signed a letter of intent for up to four new expedition ships. This is the largest single investment in HURTIGRUTEN's 123-year history With the newbuilts an additional two ships could be added to the fleet in the coming years.




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