Norway’s trade and industry minister Monica Maeland was on the water today as Norwegian sightseeing vessel operator The Fjords revealed the name of its second state-of-the-art newbuilding project.
Maeland was onboard the company’s existing hybrid-electric vessel Vision of the Fjords (built 2016), moored at Tjuvholmen in Oslo for Nor-Shipping, to formally announce the new ship will be called Future of the Fjords, and that it will be fully battery powered.
“Now you’re on board the Vision but soon you will be boarding the Future,” Maeland said, adding that The Fjords is taking “a gigantic step forward” in green tourism. The company is a joint venture between ferry operator Fjord1 and Flam AS.
Maeland stressed the government’s high priority to tackle emissions and pollution.
“A green change will also keep the industry in front internationally,” she said, adding that the government has spent more than NOK 3bn ($355.5m) on industry research and innovation since 2013.
“[We] want to make Norway one of Europe’s most innovative countries,” she said.
As with first the ship, The Future of the Fjords will be built by carbon-fibre composite specialist Brodrene Aa in Hyen.
The Fjords chief executive Rolf Sandvik told TradeWinds that the newbuilding will be similar in design to the Vision of the Fjords. “But there will be huge improvements in all the gadget things, which I love,” he said.
Petter Hersleth, head of transport at funding agency Enova, said its objective is to mitigate some of cost and risk involved with such projects.
He specified that it has contributed a total of NOK 17.8m to the Future of the Fjords as the first project in the government’s Pilot-E financing programme to fast-track green technology from concept to market.
“This is an important leap forward in the ongoing maritime battery revolution and emissions-free transport,” he said. “We expect this project to have ripple effects well beyond the Norwegian fjords.”
He applauded the vision and willpower of its owners.
Norwegian Shipowners’ Association managing director Sturla Henriksen added that the ship is not just about green tourism. “This is about the future of the oceans and our global community,” he said.
His sentiments were echoed by Frekeric Hauge, founder and president of environmental group Bellona. He said the vessel is important especially to engage young people. Looking to the future, he predicted: “The revolution of electric at sea will be very, very fast.”
