The vessels which have recently been ordered for a delivery in 2018/2019 will feature a battery system that enables them to use environmentally-friendly electric power. Fuel consumption will thus be reduced by 20%.

While the first ship (scheduled to enter service in July 2018) will be fitted with an electric auxiliary engine which supplies power for approximately 30 minutes of sailing, the second vessel (to be delivered in July 2019) will receive a full hybrid engine in order to help the ship sail longer distances and periods. Once the hybrid system has proven fully functional on the second vessel, the first one will be retrofitted with the same set of large energy storing batteries.

The new Hurtigruten expedition ships will be built locally by Kleven Verft in Ulsteinvik/Norway and will be co-developed by Rolls-Royce. Also Bellona Foundation, a Norwegian environmental organization, will take part in the design and building process of the ships. Furthermore, the Norwegian government via its state enterprise Enova will contribute NOK 45.1 million to the NOK 124 million investment in the hybrid system.

In addition to the two firm orders, Hurtigruten holds an option to build two more sister vessels.