Page 40: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (January 2019)

MARITIME EMISSIONS • Hurtigruten Pushes the Borders for Green Travel

Plastic-free advocating a ban on HFO and stricter regu- Facing the three all-glass elevators, the

Adding to the company’s green creden- lations to be applied to vessels that operate screen will reach up to and include Deck 10 tials is Hurtigruten’s ambition to become the in ‘pristine’ destinations. In support of its of the eleven-deck vessel, the state-of-the- world’s ? rst plastic-free shipping company. position, the company is involved in envi- art LED technology, with a screen resolution

The company has already banned single- ronmental research, and funds both local beyond 4K Ultra-HD, providing a seamless use plastic and items ranging from plastic and global projects through the Hurtigruten and borderless display.

straws, drink mixers, plastic cups, coffee lids Foundation. The guest experience will also be en- and plastic bags have all been removed from hanced, according to Skjeldam, by the ship’s its ships. “At Hurtigruten, we have focused New guest experiences modern Scandinavian design, with features on the problem of plastic pollution for years. Hurtigruten is expanding its greenest ex- ranging from the high-tech Amundsen Sci-

There is a lot of talk about the impact plastic pedition cruise program with a number of ence Center, several observation decks, an has on our oceans. But it’s time to take ac- new and unique destinations. From 2020, in? nity pool, a panoramic sauna, wellness tion.” said Skjeldam. guests will be able to explore the Alaskan center, three restaurants, a number of bars,

An estimated 15 metric tons of plastic ends wilderness on board the MS Roald Amund- the Explorer Lounge, and aft-facing suites up in the world’s oceans every minute of the sen, while the inaugural season of its sister with private outdoor hot tubs.

day. If this trend continues, this number will eco-friendly ship, the MS Fridtjof Nansen, Hurtigruten has also announced that the double in the next 10 years, meaning that, by will explore the unspoiled beauty of Antarc- world’s ? rst captain of a hybrid expedition weight, there will be more plastic than ? sh tica, Greenland, Iceland and the Norwegian ship will be Captain Kai Albrigtsen (54) who in the oceans by 2050: “Plastic pollution is coast. In addition, a complete makeover for will be at the helm of the MS Roald Amund- the single biggest threat to our oceans” said one of the company’s most popular cruise sen when the ship embarks on its maiden

Skjeldam. vessels, the MS Fram, will see it emerge as voyage in May 2019. Albrigtsen has held a “Hurtigruten operates in some of the most a brand-new expedition ship. However, the number of different positions on board more vulnerable areas in the world. This means most notable development within the com- than ten Hurtigruten vessels and completed that we carry a special responsibility to pro- pany’s cruise program will be the addition his ? rst expedition to Antarctica in 2003. He tect these areas for the local population and of a series of expedition cruises to Alsaka, rose to the rank of captain in 2006.

future generations of explorers.” starting in the summer of 2020. This repre-

Hurtigruten’s single-use plastics ban will sents another ? rst for the company and the be effective across its entire ? eet of custom- expedition cruise market, with the MS Roald built expedition vessels and will also be im- Amundsen having been chosen as the opera- posed on the hotels, restaurants and other tive vessel for this new route, concluding its establishments that make up the company’s 2020 Alaska season by conducting an epic

The Kleven Verft AS shipbuilding yard (right) in Ulsteinvik, Norway is the construc- land-based operations on Svalbard. These North-West Passage transit from Nome, tion site for Hurtigruten’s next-generation are operated by the company’s fully-owned Alaska via Greenland to Halifax, Nova Sco- ships. subsidiary, Hurtigruten Svalbard. tia. Hurtigruten also has plans for cruises to

Photo: Kleven Verft AS even more new destinations, including South

Challenge to suppliers America, Antarctica, Svalbard and Russia.

The MS Roald Amundsen (below left)

In addition to the its internal ban on single- The new technology on board its newest under construction at the Kleven Verft AS use plastic, Hurtigruten is challenging all its expedition cruise vessels is designed to take yard in Ulsteinvik, Norway.

Photo: Hurtigruten suppliers to reduce and cut the use of plastic: the Hurtigruten expedition cruise guest ex- “No one can win the war on plastic alone perience to a new level, with the centerpiece

The Hurtigruten ships (below) will feature without allies. This is why we implement being the tallest LED screen at sea, having several observation decks, an in