Hurtigruten updates Sea Zero plans for groundbreaking zero-emission cruise ship by 2030

Hurtigruten has released its updated plans for the Sea Zero project, a zero-emission ship scheduled to debut in 2030. The vessel, which is still in its research and development phase, will utilise large batteries, sails, and other innovative solutions to sail entirely emission-free during normal operation.

The ship will be designed to operate with energy consumption that is 40-50% less than a conventional cruise ship of the same size.

Hurtigruten initially announced its Sea Zero project in October 2022, and unveiled its first set of renderings in summer 2023. This second version of renderings and plans comes amid the ongoing development of the plan. Sea Zero is being developed principally in the Norwegian city of Ålesund by Vard, one of Hurtigruten’s key partners in the project, and integrates several innovative solutions created in collaboration with partners from the Norwegian maritime industry.

Sea Zero is one of several projects from Hurtigruten focusing on sustainable travel and industry solutions to the climate change crisis, which requires mitigation efforts from the entire industry to reduce emissions and environmental impact. Earlier this year, the cruise line announced its initiative aiming to reduce edible food waste to zero. The company is also currently going through a major 100 million Euro upgrade of its fleet that includes several ships becoming battery-hybrid-powered, while state-of-the-art technology is being retrofitted to significantly reduce both CO2 and Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 25% and 80%, respectively.

“The cruising industry is a significant polluter, and it is crucial that we now take major steps to reduce emissions,” said Hurtigruten CEO Hedda Felin. “Our goal is to have an emission-free ship in operation by around 2030. We are still in the research and development phase, but we have made significant progress.”

The Sea Zero vessel is characterised by three main features: its retractable sails, huge battery capacity, and advanced onboard technology to reduce energy consumption.

Retractable sails

The ship’s sails can be raised and lowered as needed. Preliminary estimates indicate that the sails could reduce energy consumption by around 10% over time. Additionally, solar panels will contribute another 2-3% in energy savings.

“We still see significant energy savings from having retractable sails with solar panels, but this requires thorough studies, including model tests to be conducted in the coming months. We have also changed the sail type to a more mature design already in use on cargo ships,” said Chief Operating Officer Gerry Larsson-Fedde of Hurtigruten.

The type of sail being investigated is called OceanWings. These French-developed sails are already in use on the cargo ship Canopée.

“As with all development projects, there will be adjustments to both the design and specifications along the way,” Larsson-Fedde added.

Battery capacity

The vessel will have batteries with a capacity of around 60 megawatt-hours, over 1,000 times more than a standard range Tesla Model 3, and would take up the same physical amount of space as around 60 standard shipping containers.

This is almost twice as many as the world’s largest battery-driven ship under construction, and roughly enough power to move Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, at full speed for around half an hour. The Sea Zero project however will of course be much smaller at just 135 metres and accommodating only 500 guests, with a plethora of technological solutions to reduce energy consumption wherever possible.

Advanced technology

The ship is planned with contra-rotating propellers as the main propulsion, while two retractable thrusters at the stern will ensure optimal manoeuvring during port operations and provide increased safety through redundancy.

“The central part of the project is to reduce energy consumption. The goal is to use significantly less energy than today’s ships, which requires innovative solutions,” said Larsson-Fedde.

Another measure is air lubrication of the hull, where air bubbles are pumped beneath the hull to reduce drag. This can provide energy savings of 5-10%, and combined with modern hull design, advanced anti-fouling coatings, and regular hull cleaning, water resistance can be significantly reduced even further.

Preliminary results also show that better ventilation and insulation systems, as well as advanced energy management, can lead to significant energy savings.

So-called “smart cabins” will allow guests to control their own energy usage. Guests would be able to control heating and ventilation through an app and a screen in the cabin, while also seeing how much energy is being used. This will increase guests’ awareness of sustainability.

“We are already testing advanced sensors in these cabins, and in the near future, we will conduct full-scale tests with guests onboard,” Larsson-Fedde said.