Hurtigruten plans emission-free cruise ship: Progress in Sea Zero project

Together with the Norwegian Vard shipyard, Hurtigruten is driving this pioneering project forward. Compared to the initial conceptual designs of the zero-emission ship, some external adjustments have now been made. As soon as the development phase has been completed, the construction of the ship is expected to be commissioned from Vard.

Hurtigruten unveils new plans for Sea Zero

As one of the leading brands for sustainable travel, Hurtigruten has published its revised plans for the Sea Zero project. The zero-emission ship, planned to be operational by 2030, will use large batteries, sails and other advanced technologies to produce zero emissions during operation. In addition, energy consumption could be reduced by 40 to 50 percent.

The Sea Zero project was first unveiled in October 2022, and Hurtigruten showed the first renderings in the summer of 2023. Further progress has since been made and an updated version of the ship design has been published. This evolution was developed in the Norwegian city of Ålesund by the Vard shipyard in collaboration with partners from the Norwegian shipping industry.

A step towards sustainable travel

The Sea Zero project is just one of several innovative projects by Hurtigruten that focus on environmentally friendly travel and sustainable industry solutions. At the beginning of the year, the shipping company also launched an initiative aimed at minimizing food waste on board. At the same time, an extensive fleet modernization programme is underway, involving investments of around 100 million euros. Several ships are being converted to hybrid drives with batteries, which should reduce CO2 emissions by 25 percent and nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 80 percent.

“The cruise industry contributes significantly to environmental pollution and it is essential that we take decisive steps to reduce emissions now,” says Hurtigruten CEO Hedda Felin. “Our goal is to have a zero-emission ship in operation by 2030. Even though we are still in the development phase, we have already made important progress.”

Calculations show that the new ship will consume around 40 to 50 percent less energy than today's cruise ships, with batteries serving as the primary energy source.

Advanced technologies on board

One of the most impressive innovations are the sails, which can be extended and retracted as required. Initial estimates suggest that the use of these sails could reduce energy consumption by around 10 percent. In addition, solar panels will contribute a further 2 to 3 percent in energy savings.

“We are seeing significant energy savings from the retractable sails with solar panels,” explains Gerry Larsson-Fedde, Chief Operating Officer of Hurtigruten. “However, detailed tests are still required and will be carried out in the coming months.”

Hurtigruten has opted for the OceanWings sail type, which is already used on cargo ships such as the Canopée.

Highly efficient ship propulsion systems and smart cabins

The Sea Zero ship is powered by counter-rotating propellers and the battery capacity is expected to be around 60 megawatt hours. Extendable stern thrusters are designed to ensure optimum maneuverability in harbors and provide additional safety. In addition, a system for air lubrication of the hull, in which air bubbles are pumped under the hull, reduces water resistance, which can lead to further energy savings of 5 to 10 percent.

Another highlight is the so-called “Smart Cabins”, in which passengers can control and monitor the energy consumption of their cabin via an app or a display. This system is intended to raise passenger awareness of sustainable behavior on board.

“We are already carrying out tests with sophisticated sensors in these cabins and will start extensive tests with passengers on board in the near future,” adds Larsson-Fedde.