The world’s first cruise ship partially powered by batteries will leave northern Norway to start its maiden voyage, according to cruise operator Hurtigruten. The hybrid cruise ship ‘Roald Amundsen’s’ battery pack allows it to operate solely on batteries for about 45 to 60 minutes under ideal conditions.
The ship will head towards the Arctic from Tromsoe, sailing the Northwest Passage to Alaska before heading south, reaching Antarctica in October.
The ship’s engines operate mainly on marine gasoil, but its battery pack will be allows to operate only on batteries for around 45 to 60 minutes under ideal conditions, Hurtigruten Chief Executive Daniel Skjeldam told Reuters.
What is more, Hurtigruten estimates that the battery pack will cut fuel consumption and save around 20% in carbon dioxide emissions, in comparison to the ship operating only on marine gasoil.
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Mr. Skjeldam added that the ship is designed in such a way, in order to take excessive energy from the engines and put into the battery when the ship does not need it. After that, it puts it back into the engine when it needs it.
In addition, Hurtigruten expects infrastructure to improve along its traditional routes on the Norwegian coast, as today charging services exist only in Bergen. Furthermore, in order to boost batteries uptake, suppliers’ capacity should also develop lighter and more powerful systems.
Finally, Daniel Skjeldam added that Hurtigruten will offer a second hybrid cruise ship, which will be delivered later this year. The ship will have a battery pack with twice the capacity of the Roald Amundsen.
