The Havila ships sailing along the Norwegian coast reduce NOx emissions by approximately 90%. The shipping company estimates CO2 reductions to be around 35% with the current solution, but the technology allows for further improvements.
Havila Kystruten Operations AS has received a commitment of 327 million NOK in support to implement environmental technology on its four newly built passenger ships. This significant endeavour involves the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in combination with batteries to reduce emissions. Two of the ships (Havila Capella and Havila Castor) have already been successfully verified for support disbursement, while the two remaining ships (Havila Pollux and Havila Polaris) are still undergoing verification.
"This is a significant step forward for us as a shipping company and for the environment. We must reduce our environmental impact, and this investment in natural gas and batteries will contribute significantly to achieving our goals, even beyond what we are committed to under the Coastal Route Agreement," says Captain Brynjard Ulvøy of Havila Capella, who is grateful for the support from the NOx Fund."
The technologies reduce NOx emissions by 800 tons annually, which will have a positive impact on air quality and the natural environment along the coast. The ship can sail for approximately four hours on pure battery power. Batteries and power systems enable highly efficient energy production in the gas engines, which, combined with efficient hull design and heat recovery, contribute to low fuel consumption. This also paves the way for a path towards carbon-neutral operation. This can be achieved with new batteries with larger capacity, better opportunities for shore charging, and increased use of biogas when it becomes more widely available. With this significant step towards more environmentally friendly shipping, Havila Kystruten hopes to inspire other in the industry to take similar initiatives.
"Havila Kystruten is taking an important step towards a cleaner future for the maritime industry. We are pleased to support them in their efforts to reduce NOx emissions, which have significant positive ripple effects for both the environment and public health," says the Chairman of the NOx Fund, Tor Arnesen."
From left, the General Manager of the NOx Fund Tommy Johnsen, Captain Ulvøy on Havila Capella, and the Chairman of the NOx Fund, Tor Arnesen (Photo by Fleddum).
"This investment is an example of how it is possible to combine more sustainable solutions with efficient operations. We still believe in LNG as a good transitional technology toward zero emissions when combined with the vision that Havila describes," says Tommy Johnsen, General Manager of the NOx Fund. He also notes that the extreme LNG prices from about a year ago are unlikely to be repeated, as Europe has now learned to live without Russian gas.
"The use of LNG and batteries is proved to be a viable solution for reducing emissions and promoting a more sustainable future for the maritime sector, but there are still some challenges that need to be addressed in the long run, such as infrastructure for charging batteries along the coast. Here, the NOx Fund can play an important role in the future," concludes Ulvøy.