Speaking at a press conference about the research project “LNGameChanger,” Bent Martini, CEO of Havila Voyages, said: “We have, together with the HAV Group and other technology developers in Norway, developed the most environmentally friendly ships.”

Martini, alongside Gunnar Larsen, CEO of HAV Group ASA, and David Berstad, research scientist at SINTEF, was introducing the project to the media, which the consortium is developing as a new solution for decarbonizing maritime transport. 

Speaking on the importance of environmentally friendly ships, Martini added that the company and its partners have developed and built four such ships, sailing them today in coastal service.

“We have been able to reduce the CO2 emission by almost 40 percent. We are able to reduce the emissions by 90 percent (by) using liquid biogas,” he added.

“We have developed a solution for running on hydrogen. We sailed the World Heritage fjord already in 2022, emission-free. Everyone said it was not possible. It was. We did it even though the Norwegian government didn’t believe it and changed the dates for the new regulations,” Martini said. “Now, we are into this project.”

“We feel that as ship owner, we have a responsibility — a responsibility (to enable) the generations coming after us also to have the same nature we have. We have to take care of the environment, and we have to take the responsibility as a ship owner.”

Martini emphasized that Norway has a fantastic environment and that maritime technology development must be implemented.

Speaking about the LNGameChanger project, Martini said that it is a game changer that the company could have the opportunity to use the solution by 2030.

“That is a fantastic message to the world that this is possible and this is sustainable. So, we are very much looking forward for the project and to participate in it,” he said.