Karl WP Beyer August 23, 2024 –The Norwegian government and the state-owned company "Innovation Norway" are pursuing the goal of establishing Norwegian craftsmanship, authenticity and sustainability worldwide with the newly founded "Made in Norway" initiative. Hurtigruten, Norway's expert in sea travel, is the only travel brand in the country to date to be awarded this new quality seal.
The “Made in Norway” initiative was launched on August 21, 2024. The idea behind the initiative is to strengthen the competitiveness of Norwegian companies on international markets. A total of 22 Norwegian brands have been certified so far. Hurtigruten is one of these brands.
The shipping company looks back on a company history spanning more than 130 years. The former traditional Norwegian mail ship line connects the main ports along the 2.700-kilometer-long coastline. Postal traffic was discontinued in 1984. Since then, the ships have also transported cars and freight.
Hurtigruten - MS Nordlys
With the quality label “Made in Norway”, Norway’s government intends to promote the country’s exports. What led to Hurtigruten’s award?
The shipping company was recognized for its sustainability efforts. Two measures stand out:
- The Zero Food Waste Initiative – it aims to avoid food waste altogether.
- The SeaZero project - it follows the idea of developing the first emission-free ship by 2030. In parallel, the Hurtigruten fleet will include four hybrid ships by the first quarter of 2025. In addition, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions will be reduced by 25 percent following technical updates within the fleet.
Hurtigruten - MS Richard With in the Geirangerfjord
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Northern Lights Promise. Earlier this year, Hurtigruten introduced the world's first "Northern Lights hunter," astronomer Tom Kerss. In the 2024/25 winter season, nine special Northern Lights voyages will introduce guests to the secrets of the Arctic night sky.
The “Made in Norway” seal will now be used by Hurtigruten worldwide to highlight the team’s commitment to Norwegian excellence and sustainability in the travel industry.
