Hurtigruten announced it will power its ships with liquified biogas (LBG), fossil-free, renewable fuel produced from dead fish and other organic waste. 

This follows on previous announcements on using both LNG and battery power. 

“What other see as a problem, we see as a resource and a solution. By introducing biogas as fuel for cruise ships, Hurtigruten will be the first cruise company to power ships with fossile-free fuel,” said Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam.

Renewable biogas is a clean source of energy, considered the most eco-friendly fuel currently available, the company said.

Biogas is already used as fuel in small parts of the transport sector, especially in buses. Northern Europe and Norway, which has large fishery and forestry sectors that produces a steady volume of organic waste, has a unique opportunity to become world leader in biogas production.

By 2021, Hurtigruten plans to operate at least six of its ships on a combination of biogas, LNG and large battery packs.

“While competitors are running on cheap, polluting heavy fuel oil, our ships will literally be powered by nature. Biogas is the greenest fuel in shipping, and will be a huge advantage for the environment. We would love other cruise companies to follow,” added Skjeldam.

Hurtigruten is currently building three hybrid powered expedition cruise ships at Norway’s Kleven Yard. MS Roald Amundsen, MS Fridtjof Nansen and the third, unnamed sister, will be delivered in 2019, 2020 and 2021. The company said it expects to invest more than $850 million in building the world’s greenest cruise line.

“This is just the beginning. Hurtigruten is the world’s largest expedition cruise line, that comes with a responsibility. Sustainability will be a key driver for the new era of shipping and the travel industry. Hurtigruten’s unmatched investments in green technology and innovation sets a new standard for the whole industry to follow. Our ultimate goal is to operate our ships completely emission free,” noted Skjeldam.