As shipowners globally explore new means to cut emissions and stay competitive, Norway’s Hurtigruten has a potential solutione: Dead fish and other organic waste as fuel for its 17-vessel fleet of green cruise ships.

Courtesy of its Norwegian heritage, Hurtigruten is already one of the world’s largest expedition cruise line, heavily invested in green technology to better serve the pristine aquatic environments where it conducts its business.

As the maritime world looks to the IMO mandate to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2050, Hurtigruten is already enacting its green vision, powering cruise ships with liquified biogas (LBG) – fossil-free, renewable gas produced from dead fish and other organic waste.

According to Daniel Skjeldam, CEO of Hurtigruten, “By introducing biogas as fuel for cruise ships, Hurtigruten will be the first cruise company to power ships with fossil-free fuel,”

By 2021, Hurtigruten plans to operate at least 6 of its ships on a combination of biogas, LNG and large battery packs.

“Biogas is the greenest fuel in shipping, and will be a huge advantage for the environment. We would love other cruise companies to follow,” the CEO said.