Hurtigruten Norway is celebrating its 130th anniversary this year by sharing more information about the development of the most sustainable ship at sea, a zero-emission ship whose project name is ¡®Sea Zero.¡¯?

The Sea Zero project¡¯s first zero-emission ship will debut in 2030; the line expects to completely replace its current fleet with zero-emission ships in the future. The line¡¯s ships will feature electric batteries that charge while in port, along with harnessing power from the wind. Retractable solar panel sails, the use of artificial intelligence, contra-rotating propellers and retractable thrusters are only some of the other advancements the ships will feature to make the ships truly emission-free.?

The most visible sustainability feature of the Sea Zero ships will be the three retractable wing rigs that combine solar and wind energy capture technology. They will reach a maximum height of 164 feet when fully extended, towering above the ship to harness the readily available power.

A rendering of what Sea Zero's wind and solar sails will look like when fully extended. (Photo Credit: VARD Design)

The first ship will measure 443 feet or 135 meters long and will feature space for 500 guests and 99 crew members. It will also offer a large cargo hold for shipping.?

Guests will be able to minimize energy consumption while on-board by using a mobile app to measure their personal water and energy consumption, as well as operate their cabin ventilation.?

The Sea Zero project is currently in its two-year project phase of testing and developing the technologies needed to create this groundbreaking vessel.?

¡°When we initially announced the ¡®Sea Zero¡¯ project over a year ago, we were faced with the challenge of not knowing which technologies would be available to us in 2030,¡± said Hedda Felin, CEO of Hurtigruten Norway. ¡°Our task was to pave the way for new innovations and enhance existing ones to align with our sustainability objectives. While some of these technologies have reached a relatively advanced stage, they still necessitate dedicated research and development to ensure successful implementation within the maritime context.¡±

¡°On the other hand, certain technologies are still in early development and require fundamental research and thorough testing,¡± Felin continued. ¡°Following a rigorous feasibility study, we have pinpointed the most promising technologies for our groundbreaking future cruise ships. We are committed to delivering a ship that surpasses all others in terms of energy efficiency and sustainability within just a few years.¡±

The project is a collaboration between Hurtigruten Norway and SINTEF, Cavotec Cavotec SA, Vard, Brunvoll, Plug, Corvus Energy, DNV, Sustainable Energy Catapult, Teknotherm, Jotun, Bergen Port, Norwegian Maritime Authority and Norske Havner.?

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