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Hurtigruten to convert three ships into hybrid vessels
Hurtigruten has unveiled plans to convert three ships into premium, hybrid powered expedition cruise vessels.
Following the transformation, MS Trollfjord, MS Finnmarken and MS Midnatsol will be renamed MS Maud, MS Otto Sverdrup and MS Eirik Raude (see explanation below).
MS Otto Sverdrup will have battery packs installed during a dry dock in 2020 and the cruise line has signed a letter of intent for the same battery installation on MS Maud and MS Eirik Raude in 2021.
It says the packs will drastically cut emissions and equip the ships for shore power, cutting emissions to zero when docked in ports with shore power facilities.
In addition, the ships will get substantially upgraded low-emission engines.
CEO Daniel Skjeldam said: "At Hurtigruten, the push for sustainable solutions and introduction of green technology is the core of everything we do. We operate in some of the most spectacular areas of the world. This comes with a responsibility."
The three ships will operate year-round expedition cruises along the Norwegian coast from 2021 on itineraries which have not yet been disclosed.
Hurtigruten introduced the world’s first hybrid powered cruise ship, MS Roald Amundsen, this summer.
Here’s why the cruise line chose the new names:
– MS Maud is named after one of the most famous polar vessels of all time, Roald Amundsens ‘Maud’ from 1917. The original ‘Maud’ got her name from the first Queen of modern-day Norway, who also had her namesake in Hurtigruten’s 1925 flagship DS Dronning Maud.
– MS Otto Sverdrup is named after one of Norway’s most notable polar heroes. Alongside Fridtjof Nansen, he was the first to ski across Greenland. Between his expeditions he was a captain on board Hurtigruten ships.
– MS Eirik Raude is named after one of the most famous Viking chiefs in history. Eirik Raude – also known as Eric the Red – got his name from his huge red beard, and is not only known for discovering Greenland, but also for giving the island its name.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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