Wärtsilä solutions will help Hurtigruten go even greener

he Finnmarken is the first of three Hurtigruten ships to be fitted with Wärtsilä NOR systems for Tier III compliance, after which it will be renamed the MS Otto Sverdrup [Image: Hurtigruten

Hurtigruten, the world’s largest expedition cruise operator, is to continue its push for greener and more sustainable shipping by converting three more vessels to become premium, hybrid powered expedition cruise ships.

The conversions will make extensive use of Wärtsilä technology.

The first of the three vessels to be upgraded is the 140 m, 530 guest, MS Finnmarken. It will be renamed the MS Otto Sverdrup following the conversion.

The scope includes upgrading the ship’s Wärtsilä engines for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology to restrict emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) with four Wärtsilä Nitrogen Oxide Reducer (NOR) systems being installed.

The ship will also be fitted with two Wärtsilä Energopac integrated propeller and rudder systems, which utilize advanced hydrodynamic technology to optimize propulsion efficiency. This enables effective savings in fuel, costs, and emissions.

After conversion, the ship will also have the capability to operate on battery power to further lessen its environmental footprint.

“We have enjoyed a good customer relationship with Hurtigruten for many years, and we are pleased and honored to have been selected to supply our sustainable solutions to a company that is committed to protecting the environment. The fact that we could deliver Tier III certificates for the total installation was a significant factor in the award of this contract,” says Cato Esperø, Head of Sales, Service Unit Nordics and Baltics, Wärtsilä Marine.

“At Hurtigruten, the push for sustainable solutions and introduction of green technology is the core of everything we do. We operate in some of the most spectacular areas of the world. This comes with a responsibility,” says Daniel Skjeldam, CEO of Hurtigruten.

The Wärtsilä equipment is scheduled for delivery in December of this year. Hurtigruten has announced that all new additions to its fleet, as well as its existing vessels, will be made compliant with the IMO’s Tier III regulations.