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.

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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With 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.

“Biogas is the greenest fuel in shipping and will be a huge advantage for the environment.”

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.