An energy-efficient ship

Together with a consortium of 12 maritime partners and research institute SINTEF, we are proud to present concept designs of our first ship with zero-emission operations that we hope will sail on the Norwegian coast in 2030.

Our CEO, Hedda Felin, promises: “We are committed to delivering a ship that surpasses all others, in terms of energy efficiency and sustainability, within just a few years.”

Following a rigorous feasibility study, we are moving forward with the most promising technologies, enhancing existing ideas, and paving the way for new ones.

Here are a few of the ground-breaking innovations that we will be testing and developing in the next few years to create our next generation of ship

Three retractable, autonomous wing-rigs will enhance the aerodynamics of the ship, pulling in air currents up to a height of 164 feet for added propulsion. These sails will also be covered in solar panels for a total surface area of over 16,000 sq ft.

Come summer, our ship will be superpowered by northern Norway’s Midnight Sun that shines for 24 hours a day in summer.

Renewable energy from the sails, or from ports where the ship plugs in to charge, is safely stored in the ship’s 60MWh-strong battery system. There’s even an indicator on the sides of the ship to show how full these battery banks are.

At the same time, we are making sure that any batteries we use consist of chemistries that are free from cobalt and that keep nickel to a minimum.

With the ship equipped with dozens of exterior sensors and cameras, and manoeuvring aided by the onboard AI, the size of the bridge can be slimmed down, having a setup like an airplane cockpit.

Not only does this mean a more aerodynamic hull at the bow of the ship, it also means we can give our guests more living space and viewing areas on the upper decks.

The two thrusters at the stern of the ship will retract into the hull when not needed, making the ship even more streamlined.

Likewise, contra-rotating propellers will mean the mechanisms are not rigidly stuck in one direction, which will help to increase the efficiency of the propeller flow.

To reduce underwater drag, we are further developing solutions that will allow the ship to ‘surf’ on a carpet of air bubbles.

These streams of air would project out from the keel at the front of the ship, helping to reduce water resistance.

Heating and cooling throughout the ship will be taken care of by intelligent heat exchange pumps and a network of insulated distribution systems.

These data-driven systems will enable our guests to monitor and control energy use in their individual cabin through an app on their phone.

It’s not just our iconic black, red, and white livery that makes this new Sea Zero ship follow in the wake of Hurtigruten ships past and present.

The ship is modelled at 443 feet in length and is set to have 270 cabins for 500 passengers. This is a similar size to the ships in our current fleet, ensuring we retain the intimate onboard experience we are loved for.

A large cargo hold and the ability to transport cars is also included in the design, in keeping with our faithful 130-year service helping sustainable communities of the Norwegian coast.

Sea Zero will now enter a research and development phase, which lasts until 2025. During this time, we will enhance existing ideas, pave the way for new ones, and test the most promising technologies. The project will then advance to the new-build stage as we gear up to have the ship ready for launch by 2030.

There’s still a lot to do, but we hope you’re as excited as we are about Sea Zero and the potential it has for the future.