New company unveils plans for emissions-free cruising in Norway
Artist illustration of Northern Xplorer zero-emission cruise ship
(Source: Northern Xplorer
Northern Xplorer AS (NX) has released details of plans for 14 emission-free cruise vessels designed to operate in the world’s first zero-emission zones in Norway.
The new cruise concept envisages 300-passenger vessels powered by a hybrid setup including hydrogen fuel cells, battery energy storage, sustainable auxiliary power, and electric propulsion.
The project is the brainchild of ex-master mariner, Rolf Sandvik, well-known for an earlier venture, The Fjords, which developed two completely silent electric vessels – Vision of the Fjords (2016) and Future of the Fjords (2018) – for operation in Norway’s world heritage site waters. Both vessels were named Ships of the Year at Hamburg’s SMM event in their respective delivery years.
The first of the latest ships are likely to enter service in 2024/5, in advance of Norwegian regulations, making the Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord entirely emissions-free in 2026.
Said Sandvik: “This will mean the end of polluting cruise ships sailing in what will be the world’s first zero-emission marine zones. NX provides the perfect zero-emission solution with a strong focus on local value creation and empowerment. [We] will provide opportunities to travel ‘off the beaten’ track. NX sets a new course for sustainable cruising for thinking travellers, with future expansion providing a gateway to other European destinations, both coastal and on navigable waterways inland.”
