HAV Group and Havila Voyages have partnered on a Norwegian fleet that will run on biogas and batteries with the ambition of achieving zero-emission coastal voyages in the country’s UNESCO World Heritage fjords.
“We have ambitions for growth, and we want to grow on the coastal route,” of Bergen-Kirkenes-Bergen, said Bent Martini, CEO of Havila Voyages. “And we want to grow with a fleet consisting of ships that can meet the environmental requirements of the future, which we expect and hope the authorities will set in the new contract,” said Martini. “Our message to politicians and decision-makers is clear: climate neutrality should be an absolute minimum in the next contract. And we will deliver on that from day one.”
The Norwegian government had set a rule that shipping companies operating in the country’s UNESCO World Heritage fjords must have zero-emission shipping by 2026. In April, the government announced that would only apply to vessels under 10,000 gross tons. Larger ships do not have to meet the requirements until 2032.
“If Norwegian authorities are serious about their environmental ambitions, the ships on the coastal route can be a beacon for the green transition in shipping and create synergies for other parts of the industry. Technology exists, and the opportunities are there. It’s about the willingness to make the necessary investments. With strict environmental requirements from the authorities, those who want to operate the coastal route will be forced to deliver,” he said.
The current four ships, along with future new-builds, will meet the requirements of the next tender period. The company is exploring the possibility of sailing a round-trip, 5,000 nautical mile voyage on the coastal route climate neutrally, as early as this fall.
“The problem for the maritime industry, when politicians waver in their decisions as we saw in the world heritage fjords, is that no one dares to invest in the green shift. At the same time, many players live in glass houses. They talk about climate, environment, and sustainability, but do vanishingly little about it. This is partly because politicians are unpredictable when they don’t set clear requirements or change the requirements along the way.”
