Havila ship tour. These are plug in and charge electric cruising ships, backed up by LNG fuel. A ship tour like no other. The first electric ship to cruise the fjords with stylish suites to match the serenity.
Martin Clarkson takes the southern route for Doris Visits. Starting in Kirkenes up near the Russian border, and disembarking in Bergen. He is in conversation with Stuart St Paul.
He takes in the North Cape, the tip of Europe, seen from the small fishing town of Honningsvåg, and travels along corridors with almost no distance between the ship and the overpowering rocks.
The internal décor is inspired by the sea, the sky, mountains and glaciers. Plus, the food they serve includes traditional dishes from the local towns and villages along the route using locally sourced ingredients.
Charging current from hydropower at the quay and with the world’s largest battery packs (2023) onboard gives four hours of sailing with zero emissions aided by the energy-efficient hull design. Then the use of LNG liquid natural gas cuts Co2 emissions by 25 % and NOx emissions are reduced by 90%.
Bent Martini, the CEO of Havila Kystruten, confirms: “These vessels are equipped with LNG engines, electric engines combined with a battery package. They are hybrid vessels. On the emissions side, the vessels’ NOx is reduced by 90% and CO2 is reduced by 25%… We are also able to run on biogas to reduce CO2 footprint by up to 90% and the battery package lasts four hours. Usually, when you sail along the coast you are using the battery package to do peak shaving, so the vessel uses less fuel.”
Havila Cruises’ eco-friendly cruise ships can be found along the Norwegian Cruise route which has a fascinating history including Vikings, the Hanseatic trade route and the WWII fight for steel. It is available to cruise passengers and also acts as a ferry for local residents moving between towns travelling as foot passengers.
Havila Cruises will operate four of the 11 ships that are expected to be sailing the route between Bergen and Kirkenes until 2030. Hurtigruten won one of the other contracts.
