Hurtigruten’s chief executive has unveiled more details of the cruise operator’s new hybrid cruise ships – emphasising their focus on battery power
Hurtigruten’s chief executive has unveiled more details of the cruise operator’s new hybrid cruise ships – emphasising their focus on battery power.
Daniel Skjeldam said the cruise line was putting aside extra space in the world-first hybrid expedition and cruise ships to install even more battery packs as the technology becomes more available.
Mr Skjeldam said: “This technology is moving very fast.”
The comments were made at a panel discussion about expedition cruising at the recent Seatrade Cruise Global. He told delegates: “They are the most innovative and sustainable ships out there, taking the learnings from battery ferries in Scandinavia and putting them in these vessels.”
Mr Skjeldam said: “We think we will take the technology and industry forward, they will be the most technologically advanced ships out there; this [expedition] industry needs to develop away from 50 to 60-year old ships and find new technology that reduces emissions considerably, that is the very important part, when we sail in the most sensitive areas in the world.”
He summed up: “The future is electric.”
Hurtigruten’s two hybrid battery expedition cruise ships are being built at Kleven shipyard. Rolls-Royce is providing new and environmentally sustainable hybrid technology for them.
The Rolls-Royce-designed Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen will include, in addition to the hybrid power solution, the latest automation and control systems, including the Rolls-Royce Unified Bridge, the first delivery of two azipull propellers using permanent magnet technology, two large tunnel thrusters, stabilisers, four Bergen B33:45 engines, winches and power electric systems.
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