Hurtigruten Announces Climate-Neutral Sailing

(October 2, 2025) — Hurtigruten has set a date for the first-ever climate-neutral biofuel sailing: a 4,000-kilometer (2,485-mile) journey along the Norwegian coastline from Bergen to Kirkenes and back.

The voyage is set to depart on Oct. 29, 2025, aboard the 458-passenger battery-hybrid ship MS Richard With.

The vessel’s tanks will be filled with ‘HVO100’ (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil), which the cruise line says is produced from renewable waste materials that are part of the natural cycle, making it inherently climate neutral. The biofuel is sourced from Nordic energy supplier St1.

Additionally, the ship will connect to shore power wherever available during the sailing.

“Our ships already sail on blended biofuel, but for the first time we will carry out the entire sailing on 100% advanced biofuel. For us at Hurtigruten, it is important to do what we can to reduce emissions, and this voyage is an example of how biofuel can play a key role in achieving Norway’s climate goals,” says Hedda Felin, CEO of Hurtigruten.

The cruise line is also working on the research and development program Sea Zero, whose goal is to design a ship that can sail without emissions. According to Felin, Hurtigruten aims to build new ships that reduce the total energy demand by 40 to 50 percent, sailing on batteries as the main source of energy and assisted by innovative solutions like sails, air lubrication of hulls, a more efficient design and contra-rotating propellers.