Havila Voyages, a Norway-based cruise line, announced “groundbreaking” plans to operate its first climate-neutral cruise early this fall. With the goal of using 100% biogas and the ships’ large battery packs, Havila Voyages is finalizing planning a voyage along the historic coastal route from Bergen to Kirkenes.

Following this launch, the cruise line intends to expand this program across its four sustainable ships.

How it happened: HAV Group and Havila Voyages entered into a partnership to ensure a coastal fleet that will be at least climate-neutral—with the ambition of achieving zero emissions. Together, the current four ships, along with future newbuilds, will meet the requirements of the next tender period.

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At a political conference in Norway last week, Bent Martini, CEO of Havila Voyages, said, “We are in the planning phase to test a full round voyage on the coastal route this fall, using biogas in combination with our large battery packs. We are in dialogue with suppliers to secure sufficient volumes to be able to fill the tanks 100% with biogas, and we believe we will succeed.”

That Bergen-to-Kirkenes (and return) route spans 5,000 nautical miles. All of it would be sailed climate-neutrally, said Martini.

A Commitment to Norway’s Coast

At the conference, Martini also reiterated the company’s goal of expanding its presence on the Bergen-to-Kirkenes Coastal Route. “We have ambitions for growth, and we want to grow on the coastal route. And we want to grow with a fleet consisting of ships that can meet the environmental requirements of the future, which we expect and hope the authorities will set in the new contract,” he said.

Martini added that stricter environmental requirements are fully achievable with today’s technology, and he hopes politicians will stand by the standards they set.