Karl WP Beyer July 2, 2019 - What takes a long time is finally good. The hybrid-powered expedition cruise ship Roald Amundsen will start from Troms on July 3, 2019, with a delay of more than a yearø off to maiden voyage. The hybrid ship is the first cruise ship in the world to switch to battery operation in sensitive sailing areas.
In 2016, the traditional shipping company Hurtigruten commissioned the Norwegian Kleven shipyard to build two battery-powered expedition ships. The electric drive is used in the sensitive driving areas of the polar regions. The shipyard's financial turmoil delayed delivery. To secure the investment, the shipping company acquired a significant stake in the shipbuilding company in 2017. MS Roald Amundsen left the shipyard last week with a delay of more than a year.
The first videos show the ship, powered by large battery packs, sailing silently and emission-free off the Norwegian coast. The Roald Amundsen is already considered one of the most environmentally friendly cruise ships in the world. It should be noted that the ship cannot do without fossil fuels. Marine diesel is used; if necessary, the machines are powered by electricity stored in battery packs. Due to the technology used, CO2-Emissions reduced by more than 20 percent compared to other ships of the same size. So far, there is no information on how long the ship will sail on battery power.
Hybrid ship MS Roald Amundsen © Photo Hurtigruten
The new building, 140 meters long and measured at around 21.000 GT, is praised as a “premium cruise ship”. It has a modern Scandinavian design and has 265 cabins. With double occupancy this corresponds to 530 guests. The crew is numbered at 151 members. The passenger crew ratio does not quite meet the requirements of premium ships!
After all, it has a number of groundbreaking innovations. This includes a state-of-the-art science center, large viewing platforms, an infinity pool, a panoramic sauna, a wellness center, three restaurants, bars, an explorer lounge and suites with private outdoor hot tubs. The balcony quota is over 50 percent. In addition to the green technology on board, the Roald Amundsen is the first cruise ship in the world that is free from single-use plastic. If all goes well, the sister ship MS Fridtjof Nansen will be delivered in 2020. A third ship has now been ordered.
Hybrid ship MS Roald Amundsen © Photo Hurtigruten
In the first season, Roald Amundsen will undertake expedition trips along the Norwegian coast as well as to Svalbard and Greenland. The ship then crosses the Northwest Passage and heads south to Antarctica.
