For the first time, Hurtigruten is putting a physical model of its future zero-emission vessel, Sea Zero, to the test.
The aim of the project is to put the first zero-emission Hurtigruten ship into operation along the Norwegian coast by 2030. The tests of the scale model focused in particular on energy efficiency, resistance in the water and maneuverability.
Using state-of-the-art technology – including over 100 sensors, motion cameras and laser measurements – the behavior of the planned newbuild was tested under realistic conditions. The results serve as the basis for the further development of the hull shape, drive and battery architecture.
“The model tests are a crucial step in making our ambitious sustainability goals technically feasible,” explains Hedda Felin, CEO of Hurtigruten Norway. “We don’t just want to help shape emission-free shipping, we want to lead it.”
Hurtigruten focuses on pioneering work
The Sea Zero project was launched in 2022 together with leading maritime research and technology partners – including the classification company DNV, the shipbuilding company Vard and the research institute SINTEF. The project is partly funded by the Norwegian Research Council’s Grønn Platform program.
The planned zero-emission ship will use a combination of battery propulsion, wind support, innovative hull architecture and energy management on board. Even in the design phase, it has already been shown that it has the potential to be up to 50% more energy efficient than today’s ships.
Now that the model tests have been completed, the concept refinement phase begins. At the same time, the design and technical requirements will be specified so that the first emission-free ship can be built from 2027. Commissioning is planned for 2030 – marking a significant chapter in Hurtigruten’s 135-year history.
“Sea Zero is more than an innovation project – it is our investment in the future of the Norwegian coast,” says CEO Felin. “We want to show that sustainable tourism and technological excellence can go hand in hand.”
