The "Sea Zero" project has been awarded EUR 7 million in public funding and has a total budget of EUR 13 million going into this research and development phase dedicated to developing pioneering solutions for energy efficiency, state-of-the-art battery solutions, propulsion technology, hull design, sustainable building practices, and onboard hotel operations to reduce energy use to a minimum.

The project builds on Hurtigruten’s 130-year pioneering heritage and aims to develop zero-emission ships specifically adapted to the Norwegian coast, with the first vessel expected to be delivered by 2030. With only 0.1% of all vessels worldwide currently using zero-emission technology, Hurtigruten Norway's project aims to have a significant impact on the cruise industry's sustainability and the future of travel.

The research phase will take place between 2023 and 2025, going directly into a new build project. The consortium aims to make the new ships zero emission to both sea and air, with one of the potential game-changers being a significant reduction in energy consumption.

“We aim to build the most energy-efficient passenger ship ever. We will turn every stone to cut both energy use, waste and emissions to a minimum,” said Gerry Larsson-Fedde, Hurtigruten Norway SVP for Marine Operations.

"Consumers will not continue to accept the use of heavy fuel oil or climate targets that are way behind the Paris Agreement. Zero-emission ships will be the game-changer our industry needs”, said Larsson-Fedde.

This phase follows Hurtigruten Norway’s recent EUR 10 million green upgrade launched last year, which included the first of several battery-hybrid ships in the Coastal Express fleet.

One of the key focus areas of the project is in the onboard hotel operations, sometimes consuming up to 50 % of the ship's total energy use. Developing new energy solutions for the hotel operations will be crucial to the project's success, as waste heat from engines is not available as a heat source when batteries replace traditional engines.

The Sea Zero project has the potential to impact the cruise and passenger transport industry by developing and demonstrating zero-emission ships and making new green technologies and products available for a large and global market. The project's total value creation potential is several hundred million euros up to 2030, with a significant portion of this potential expected to be realised when Hurtigruten Norway signs a contract for newbuilding on the first zero-emission ship.

Partners in the Sea Zero project:

• Hurtigruten Norway
• SINTEF
• Cavotec SA
• VARD
• Brunvoll
• Plug
• Corvus Energy
• DNV
• Sustainable Energy Catapult
• Teknotherm
• Jotun
• Norwegian Maritime Authority
• Bergen Port
• Norske Havner