Three Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express vessels are being retrofitted for hybrid operations
Hurtigruten Group has signed a contract with Kongsberg Maritime (KM) to upgrade three of its Norwegian Coastal Express passenger vessels with equipment packages for hybrid operation.
The company aims to cut CO2 emissions from their operations along the coast of Norway by at least 25%. KM will collaborate closely with Norwegian shipyard Myklebust Verft on the refit.
Each vessel will be fitted with two SAVe Energy 1,120-kWh lithium-ion energy storage systems, controlled via Kongsberg Maritime’s SAVe CUBE integrated drive switchboard. This single-cabinet solution includes all frequency converters, drives and DC switching equipment necessary for the hybrid system, controlling all connected thrusters, saving space and simplifying cooling and installation.
“This is one of the largest environmental vessel upgrade projects to be undertaken in Europe,” said Kongsberg Maritime president Egil Haugsdal. “For us, it’s rewarding to work with a company that shares our ambitious approach to technology and environmental issues. These green upgrades of Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express ships represent a forward-looking, sustainable choice for their existing fleet.”
Two new, energy-efficient Bergen B33:45V diesel engines will propel each vessel, equipped with selective catalytic reduction to ensure optimal emissions control and compliance with IMO Tier III regulations, and fully compatible with Kongsberg’s digital management solutions, including health monitoring. The delivery scope also encompasses reblading the main propellers, new thruster motors, AC switching, safety and telegraph systems, in addition to full system integration and commissioning.
Shaft generators on the engines will supply electrical power, managed by a custom installation of the K-Chief 700 power management system. Data from onboard sensors will be collated and shared via the K-IMS information management system application and analysed using Vessel Insight.
Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express is part of Hurtigruten Group. Hurtigruten Group chief executive Daniel Skjeldam said “Our goal is to operate all our ships and all our cruises completely emissions-free. While we get a step closer day-by-day, we cannot sit idle and wait for the technology to be in place. We are working closely with our partners, such as the competent team at Kongsberg Maritime, to drive change and move boundaries, while at the same time utilising the best solutions already available today.”
The first vessel to undergo an upgrade is MS Richard With. Myklebust Verft general manager Inge-Jonny Hide said “…In addition to building state-of-the-art new vessels, it’s important for us to receive orders for upgrades and retrofits than can prolong a ship’s lifetime in compliance with the new environmental regulations.”
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