Karl WP Beyer November 11, 2024 – Since 1893, the Norwegian mail ship line Hurtigruten has been serving Norway's coastal cities and the surrounding hinterland with a wide range of services. With the "Sea Zero" initiative, the shipping company is pushing forward a project for emission-free ship propulsion on the classic mail ship route.
The project started in 2021. It aims to put the world's first emission-free mail ship into operation on the Norwegian coast by 2030. Thanks to powerful batteries or previously unfamiliar foldable sails, the goal is to reduce energy consumption by up to 50 percent compared to current ships. This also includes a new ship design that takes some getting used to, developed jointly by Vard Group AS, Ålesund and the Norwegian shipping industry.
Hurtigruten – ship design that takes some getting used to – Rendering © Vard-Hurtigruten
A highlight of the ship's design are the retractable sails. The folding mechanism is necessary to enable the ship to pass under low bridges. Preliminary estimates show that the sails could reduce energy consumption by around ten percent. Solar panels result in an additional two to three percent savings. It should be mentioned in passing that sails have already proven their worth on cargo ships.
Hurtigruten – folding sails – rendering © Vard-Hurtigruten
The planned air lubrication of the hull could reduce energy consumption by a further five to ten percent. Air lubrication involves pumping air bubbles under the ship's hull to reduce resistance in the water. The ship is planned to be equipped with counter-rotating propellers and batteries with a capacity of around 60 megawatt hours. Two retractable stern thrusters ensure optimal maneuverability and increased safety in port operations. Better ventilation and insulation systems as well as advanced energy management also contribute to significant energy savings. Passengers will also contribute to this goal through adjustable heating and ventilation systems and energy consumption displays. We can see that the project of emission-free ship operation is made up of many individual measures.