Hurtigruten relies on modern environmental technology for mail ships

Hurtigruten relies on modern environmental technology for mail ships


February 21, 2022 - The Norwegian mail shipping company Hurtigruten, which gave itself the apt nickname "the original", is upgrading its mail ships to modern environmental technologies. The investment in sustainability gives the shipping company and its passengers a clear conscience in the future and pollutes the environment along the Norwegian coast with significantly lower carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions.

The shipping company describes the investment project as "one of the largest sustainability investments in European shipping". The modern environmental technology used in the upgraded ships reduces CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions by 25 percent and NOx (nitrogen oxide) emissions by 80 percent.

It can be expected that the conversion of the ships to environmentally friendly technology will be completed in the summer of next year. The innovations serve the entire Norwegian coast, but especially the port cities called by the mail ships.

Hurtigruten takes a differentiated approach to the conversions. With MS Richard With, MS Nordlys and MS Kong Harald, three of the ships will be converted to battery hybrid propulsion. The ships will receive new low-emission engines and large battery packs. Work on the MS Richard With has already started at the Norwegian Myklebust Verft AS. MS Kong Harald and MS Nordlys will follow later.

Hurtigruten - MS Richard with


Hurtigruten - MS Richard with


Hurtigruten - MS Nordlys


Hurtigruten - MS Nordlys 


The MS Nordnorge, MS Nordkapp and MS Polarlys will receive so-called SCR systems as part of their upgrade. This technology reduces emissions of nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gases from the engines by 80 percent.

After the conversion of the mail ships, the fleet of the Hurtigruten Group comprises a total of six hybrid ships. The world's first hybrid expedition ships MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen are currently equipped with the innovative drive. In 2021, the MS Otto Sverdrup also received a hybrid drive. She was designed for sustainable expedition voyages along the Norwegian coast after being refitted by Hurtigruten.

Booking options Hurtigruten

Hurtigrouten at Astoria Cruises Central