Hurtigruten Unveils Innovative Ship Design Following Successful Trials in Norway

Image Credits: Vard Design

Hurtigruten is making strides toward creating the most energy-efficient cruise ship ever with its innovative sea zero initiative. Recently, this project reached a significant milestone after undergoing extensive testing at SINTEF Ocean in Trondheim, Norway. the team is exploring various cutting-edge technologies, including large battery systems, retractable sails, air lubrication methods, contra-rotating propellers, and an energy-optimized hull design.

the goal? To develop a vessel capable of sailing along the Norwegian coast without producing emissions by around 2030. Gerry Larsson-Fedde, hurtigruten’s Chief Operating Officer, shared insights from the tests: “we’re gaining valuable knowledge that shows many of our ambitious targets can indeed be realized.”

after months of design iterations and trials, the ship’s blueprint has evolved into a longer and more stable structure featuring two sizable retractable sails that can be adjusted as needed. Recent simulations and physical tests using an eight-metre model in SINTEF’s facilities demonstrated that these sails could potentially lower energy consumption by 10–15%.

“We continuously tweak our designs for optimization,” larsson-Fedde explained. “Now we’ve extended the ship by eight meters while also making it slightly wider and reducing its height by one deck for improved stability. We’ve streamlined from three to two sails as well.”

The Sea zero project aims to achieve a remarkable 40-50% reduction in energy use compared to current vessels. This significant cut means that with shore power connections at strategic ports, emission-free sailing could become feasible.

Trond Johnsen, Project Manager for sea Zero noted: “With our targeted energy reductions in mind, it’s realistic to equip this ship with batteries powerful enough to navigate between charging stations under typical weather conditions.”

Hurtigruten collaborates closely with SINTEF and other top-tier partners to refine their designs further.

“To fully grasp how these technologies interact effectively together,” said anders Alterskjær from SINTEF Ocean Research Department, “we’re employing advanced numerical simulations alongside new lab techniques for model testing.” The results so far are promising regarding achieving zero-emission operations through reduced energy demands.

Key Highlights of Sea Zero:

• Ambition: Create the world’s most efficient cruise vessel
• Targeting zero-emission operations by 2030
• Length: A record-breaking 143.5 meters—Hurtigruten’s longest yet
• Features: Two retractable sails equipped with solar panels (10–15% potential savings)
• Innovations include contra-rotating propellers and air lubrication systems
• Smart technology for onboard heating and cooling management
• Anticipated savings of 40–50% compared to existing ships

Collaborators include industry leaders like vard Design and DNV among others.

“The Coastal Express has been navigating Norway’s coastline for over a century,” remarked Hedda Felin, CEO of Hurtigruten. “To ensure we continue this journey for another hundred years or more requires us to rethink how we operate.”