Expedition cruise operator, Hurtigruten, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Norway’s Kleven Verft AS for the construction of their third hybrid powered expedition cruise ship, which is expected to be delivered in the second quarter of 2021. This vessel will transport guests in a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly way than ever seen before, Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam says.
The new hybrid powered expedition ship, accommodating 530 guests, will be custom built for extreme conditions, with specially designed, ice-strengthened hull. Among the eco-friendly features on the new ship are substantially larger battery packs to make expedition voyages even more sustainable.
The new ship’s design, construction, engineering and advanced technology will be based on Hurtigruten’s two next-generation ships, MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen, currently under construction at the Norwegian yard.
These two hybrid battery powered ships will use partially electric propulsion, the efficient use of electricity onboard and an advanced hull design to cut CO2 emissions by up to 20 percent, according to the cruise line. They will be specially designed for polar voyages and will have large observation platforms on several decks for scenery and wildlife viewing. They will have a capacity of approximately 600 guests based on double occupancy.
With a growing fleet of 17 custom built expedition ships, Hurtigruten explores destinations from pole to pole, including Antarctica, South America, Norway, Svalbard, Greenland, Northwest Passage and other Arctic destinations.
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