Popular cruise line Hurtigruten has announced plans for new ships which will use the hybrid technology developed by Rolls Royce to reduce emissions by 20 per cent.
The revolutionary engines installed in the new vessels will mean that ships can sail using electricity for up to 30 minutes at a time. Two new 530-passenger ships are currently being built in Norway for expected delivery in July 2018 and July 2019. They will be used on voyages to the polar regions.
The first ship will have a battery-powered auxiliary engine. The second ship aims to have a hybrid engine with large batteries to provide fully electric sailing over longer distances. If this new technology works, then the first ship will also be retro-fitted with the same technology.
Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam said: “The future of shipping is, without a doubt, silent and emission free. We will use our new expeditionary ships as groundbreakers for this new technology and show the world that hybrid propulsion on large ships is possible today.”
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