Hurtigruten ships to run on LBG produced from fish cutaways

Norwegian expedition cruise operator Hurtigruten is turning to liquefied biogas produced from cutaways from fisheries and other organic waste to fuel its cruise ships. 

With a fleet of 17 vessels, Hurtigruten invested in technology such as battery solutions and is now turning to liquefied biogas.

“What other see as a problem, we see as a resource and a solution,” Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam said.

Biogas is already used as fuel in small parts of the transport sector, especially in buses. Northern Europe and Norway, which has large fishery and forestry sectors that produce a steady volume of organic waste, has a unique opportunity to benefit from biogas production, the company said.

Hurtigruten plans to operate at least six of its ships on a combination of biogas, LNG and battery packs by 2021.

The company is currently building three hybrid powered expedition cruise ships at Norway’s Kleven Yard. Roald Amundsen, Fridtjof Nansen and the third, unnamed sister, will be delivered in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Hurtigruten expects to invest more than $850 million into building its fleet.