Norwegian expedition cruise operator Hurtigruten has unveiled plans to power its ships with liquified biogas (LBG), which will be produced from dead fish and other organic waste.
The fossil-free, renewable fuel is a clean source of energy and is considered to be the most environmentally friendly fuel.
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Hurtigruten aims to run at least six of its ships using biogas, liquified natural gas (LNG), and large battery packs.
In a press release cited by cruiseindustrynews.com, Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam said: “What others see as a problem, we see as a resource and a solution.
“By introducing biogas as fuel for cruise ships, Hurtigruten will be the first cruise company to power ships with fossil-free fuel.”
According to Hurtigruten, biogas is currently used as fuel in small parts of the transport sector, particularly in buses.
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By GlobalDataWith large fishery and forestry sectors that generate a steady volume of organic waste, Northern Europe and Norway has the potential to become a hub of biogas production, the company said.
Skjeldam further added: “While competitors are running on cheap, polluting heavy fuel oil, our ships will literally be powered by nature.
“Biogas is the greenest fuel in shipping and will be a huge advantage for the environment. We would love other cruise companies to follow.”
Hurtigruten plans to invest more than $850m to make the company greener.
The company is currently involved in the construction of three hybrid-powered expedition cruise ships at Norway’s Kleven Yard.
The three ships, MS Roald Amundsen, MS Fridtjof Nansen, and a yet-to-be-named sister vessel, are scheduled to be delivered in 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively.
