In what is the largest ever global contract for supply of liquefied biogas (LBG) to a shipping operator, Hurtigruten and Biokraft has entered into a 7,5-year deal. The partnership includes near-daily delivery of biogas produced from organic waste to Hurtigruten ships, the first cruise ships in the world to be powered by fossil-free LBG.

- This is a large and significant move for Hurtigruten, for Biokraft, for green solutions in the global shipping industry, and most importantly, for the environment, Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam says.

Battery-biogas hybrid ships

Hurtigruten, the world leader in exploration travel, will replace conventional engines with gas-powered engines and large battery packs on at least 6 of their ships by 2021. The hybrid ships will run on a combination of clean electric power, natural gas (LNG) and biogas (LBG).

- We are proud to partner with Hurtigruten and see this as a major step towards green and sustainable shipping. It is very encouraging to see that Hurtigruten once again proves their stance as the world’s greenest cruise line, setting an example by effectively being the company that is introducing biogas as fuel in the shipping industry, Biokraft CEO Håvard Wollan says.

Greenest fuel available

Renewable biogas is a clean source of energy, considered the most eco-friendly fuel currently available. Biogas is already used as fuel in small parts of the transport sector, especially in buses. 

Northern Europe and Norway, which has large fishery and forestry sectors that produces a steady volume of organic waste, has a unique opportunity to become world leader in biogas production.

- Norway has a long history as one of the world’s leading maritime nations and has been living off the oceans for generations. Currently our oceans are under pressure from climate change and pollution. This is what we are working to change with dedicated partners like Hurtigruten, Wollan says.

A no-brainer

The partnership between Hurtigruten and Biokraft, means that the world’s largest expedition cruise company and the world’s largest producer of LBG is joining forces.

- What other see as a problem, we see as a resource and a solution. While other operators are running on cheap, polluting heavy fuel oil, our ships will literally be powered by nature. Biogas is the greenest fuel in shipping, a no-brainer for us, and a huge advantage for the environment. We would love other cruise companies to follow, Skjeldam says.

Biokraft describes the Hurtigruten deal “a groundbreaking change for the future of the shipping and cruise industry”.

- Waste can be profitably transformed into high quality clean renewable fuel, that can move buses or trucks, and as Hurtigruten shows, power cruise ships. From our production of biogas, we also get large amounts of renewable biofertilizer, an important contribution to more sustainable food production, Wollan says.