The Northern Xplorer zero-emission cruise ship concept is becoming a reality as design and construction efforts progress. It will be the world's first zero-emission cruise ship, powered by both batteries and hydrogen fuel cells.
Norwegian company Northern Xplorer reports that it has selected a shipyard and is working with technology partners to choose the technologies for its first cruise ship. The company expects the ship to be delivered at the start of the 2025/2026 cruise season.
Northern Xplorer and the Portuguese shipyard West Sea have signed a letter of intent for the construction of the cruise ship. West Sea said it intends to build the 250-passenger vessel at its shipyard in Viana do Costello, north of Porto. The shipyard is currently involved in the construction of seven 10,000-gross-ton exploration cruise ships being built by a Portuguese entrepreneur and marketed by Atlas Ocean Voyages.
“This is a new milestone in our journey towards zero-emission cruising,” said Northern Xplorer founder and CEO Rolf André Sandvik. “After soliciting bids from shipyards around the world, we are delighted to embark on this exciting project with West Sea.”.
The vessel's design features ABB's all-electric propulsion system, including battery and hydrogen fuel cell technology, enabling it to operate emission-free. Northern Xplorer reports that, along with ABB, they are currently in discussions with multiple systems sub-suppliers for the vessel. When the company initially announced its concept in December 2021, it stated its current plan is for a series of 14 ships accommodating up to 300 passengers in 150 cabins, supported by approximately 100 crew members.
“We haven’t made any final decisions yet because we want to use the newest technology as it becomes available. Where possible, we also intend to select the most sustainable materials available on the market,” said Sandvik.
The new company aims to position itself to be among the first capable of meeting Norway's mandate, which, starting in 2026, will ban fossil fuel-powered ships in its fjords, a World Heritage Site. As green technology and the necessary infrastructure expand, they hope to offer cruises to other parts of the world.
In June of this year, the Norwegian cruise company Havila Kystruten made history by becoming the first to operate a zero-emission cruise in Norway's Geirangerfjord. The 15,800-gross-ton Havila Castor cruise ship sailed for three hours through the fjord using only its battery power.
