Hurtigruten Group - Experts & Thought Leaders

Brunvoll is an essential partner in Hurtigruten's Sea Zero project, driving the maritime industry towards emission-free transits. Together with Hurtigruten and the other industry partners, we are exploring game-changing propulsion and autonomy solutions, and defining the fjord cruise vessel for the future. Zero-emission sea journeys “We are delighted to take part in this project aimed towards zero emission sea journeys along the longer Norwegian coast,” says Kåre Øyvind Vassdal, CEO of Brunvoll. "Brunvoll has wider competencies and experience to bring into the project, and we are also investigating new concepts together with Hurtigruten and the other industry partners." Sea Zero project Sea Zero is a research project aimed towards zero-emission sailing along the Norwegian coast Brunvoll is one of the industry partners chosen by Hurtigruten for the Sea Zero project. Sea Zero is a research project aimed towards zero-emission sailing along the Norwegian coast and has received support from both The Norwegian Research Council and Innovation Norway for 2023 through 2025. The project includes a wide range of industry partners, and Brunvoll is the main partner for propulsion and autonomy solutions. Propulsion solutions, and autonomy Brunvoll contributes to two of the project’s work packages, on safe and hydrodynamically efficient Propulsion Solutions, and Autonomy. The teams are identifying and verifying potential new ideas in a structured research project, to define the coastal cruise vessel of the future. In the Propulsion Solutions work package, the aim is to find the optimal energy solution, while also maintaining manoeuvring capacity in and out of harbour. One of the proposals includes Brunvoll’s contra-rotating propeller, which offers a particularly high propulsion efficiency. Onshore and onboard Hurtigruten's ships The events have given useful information on both technical and business issues that are central to the solutions assessed The project has had several workshops both onshore, and onboard Hurtigruten's ships, including fruitful discussions and sharing of knowledge and competence. The events have given useful information on both technical and business issues that are central to the solutions assessed in the project. The proposed concepts will be shortlisted for more detailed analysis during the next workshop in Ålesund in June 2024. BruCon solutions For Autonomy, Brunvoll’s BruCon solutions are being further developed, ensuring efficient and optimal operation of the vessel. Propulsion, speed, and manoeuvring are balanced using Brunvoll’s in-depth competence in hydrodynamics and control theory. Safety, reliability, and service are core values in Brunvoll, and this is reflected in the proposed solutions. Among the improvements being made in the control system is a smooth transition between the BruCon AutoPilot and BruCon AutoDocking Systems delivered by Brunvoll.

Hurtigruten Norway, which is working towards delivering its first zero emission ship by 2030, has kicked off an innovative research project, in partnership with research institute - SINTEF and 12 maritime partners. The new consortium is dedicated to developing innovative, zero-emission solutions for the future of passenger ships. Building sustainable vessels The partners aim to create the most energy-efficient and sustainable cruise ship ever built by 2030 Based on cutting-edge research, the partners aim to create the most energy-efficient and sustainable cruise ship ever built by 2030. The ‘Sea Zero’ project has been awarded €7 million in public funding and has a total budget of €13 million going into this research and development phase dedicated to developing pioneering solutions for energy efficiency, state-of-the-art battery solutions, propulsion technology, hull design, sustainable building practices, and onboard hotel operations to reduce energy use to a minimum. Develop zero-emission ships adapted to the Norwegian coast The project builds on Hurtigruten’s 130-year pioneering heritage and aims to develop zero-emission ships specifically adapted to the Norwegian coast, with the first vessel expected to be delivered by 2030. With only 0.1% of all vessels worldwide currently using zero-emission technology, Hurtigruten Norway’s project aims to have a significant impact on the cruise industry’s sustainability and the future of travel. Research phase of project between 2023 and 2025 The research phase will take place between 2023 and 2025, going directly into a new build project. The consortium aims to make the new ships zero emission to both sea and air, with one of the potential game-changers being a significant reduction in energy consumption. “We aim to build the most energy-efficient passenger ship ever. We will turn every stone to cut both energy use, waste and emissions to a minimum,” said Gerry Larsson-Fedde, Hurtigruten Norway’s Senior Vice President (SVP) for Marine Operations. Zero-emission ships touted to be the game-changer Zero-emission ships will be the game-changer our industry needs" “Consumers will not continue to accept the use of heavy fuel oil or climate targets that are way behind the Paris Agreement. Zero-emission ships will be the game-changer our industry needs,” adds Gerry Larsson-Fedde. This phase follows Hurtigruten Norway’s recent 10 million Euros green upgrade launched last year, which included the first of several battery-hybrid ships in the Coastal Express fleet. Develop new energy solutions for the hotel operations One of the key focus areas of the project is in the onboard hotel operations, sometimes consuming up to 50% of the ship’s total energy use. Developing new energy solutions for the hotel operations will be crucial to the project’s success, as waste heat from engines is not available as a heat source when batteries replace traditional engines. Teknotherm – key partner in the project Teknotherm is proud to be a partner in this exciting project, and their area of responsibility will be the ventilation part and in specific the heating-/cooling systems onboard. They are going to develop a ‘smart cabin’ with application control and measuring of consumption for the passengers, in addition to dynamic simulation methods of the HVAC systems for design support and further development. New green technologies and products for the global market The project’s total value creation potential is several hundred million Euros, up to 2030 The Sea Zero project has the potential to impact the cruise and passenger transport industry by developing and demonstrating zero-emission ships, and making new green technologies and products available for a large and global market. The project’s total value creation potential is several hundred million Euros, up to 2030, with a significant portion of this potential expected to be realised when Hurtigruten Norway signs a contract for newbuilding on the first zero-emission ship. Partners in the Sea Zero project include: Hurtigruten Norway SINTEF Cavotec SA VARD Brunvoll Plug Corvus Energy DNV Sustainable Energy Catapult Teknotherm  Jotun Norwegian Maritime Authority Bergen Port Norske Havner The Sea Zero project The Sea Zero project aims to enable zero-emission passenger and freight transport along the Norwegian coast The Sea Zero project aims to enable zero-emission passenger and freight transport along the Norwegian coast by 2030, by developing and demonstrating emission-free ships for Hurtigruten Norway. To achieve this goal, it is important to look at combinations of different measures, both on energy efficiency (ship design and operation) and energy supply (fuel and emissions). In addition, the application of some technologies will require the development of port infrastructure (for e.g. charging). More R&D needed for scale-up, maritime adaptation Some of these technologies are relatively mature, but still need significant Research & Development (R&D) for scale-up, maritime adaptation and optimisation. Other technologies are immature and require more basic research. The project consists of industry actors and R&D institutions with expertise and products/services in the technology areas that are considered most critical to achieve success.

Hurtigruten’s ambition is to develop a zero-emission ship for the costal route from Bergen to Kirkenes. The project is close to 130MNOK and in close cooperation with several Norwegian maritime suppliers, including Brunvoll. “We could have waited for others to develop the technology, but Norway would then miss a great opportunity,” says Hedda Felin, CEO in Hurtigruten Norge. Government financially support But it is decisive that the Norwegian government financially support the development, enabling Norwegian maritime industry to develop the best zero emission technology and thus contribute to Norwegian value creation. Hurtigruten are ready to do their part to through development of a new zero emission ship suited for the Norwegian coastline An important project Brunvoll has long traditions for development of new technology and welcome the focus on more zero emission Brunvoll has long traditions for development of new technology and welcome the focus on more zero emission. This is an important project, both to state Norway’s position in ship design, equipment, and building, and for Brunvoll to contribute to a more sustainable future says Knut Andresen EVP Engineering & Product Development at Brunvoll. Brunvoll will contribute with investigations of alternative integrated green propulsion systems and with autonomous systems for decision support on efficient and safe operations.