Hurtigruten Norway launches its first hybrid ship, part of a EUR100 million green upgrade

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 22 September 2022 22 September 2022

Hurtigruten Norway has launched its first environmentally-upgraded battery-hybrid powered ship, Richard With. It is the first of seven in the Coastal Express fleet to be upgraded, and now features state-of-the-art technology that will significantly reduce both CO2 and Nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions.

"With MS Richard With back in operations as a fully-upgraded ship, guests can sail the Norwegian coast on a quieter, state-of-the-art, and environmentally-friendly ship, while enjoying a traditional experience unlike anything in the world. Over the next year, all our seven Coastal Express ships will be upgraded to be more sustainable," said Hedda Felin, CEO of Hurtigruten Norway.

As part of a major effort to make Hurtigruten Norway's fleet more sustainable, the company has invested nearly 100 million Euros towards green upgrades that will be implemented before the end of 2023. This move follows its sister company, Hurtigruten Expeditions, introducing the world's first battery-hybrid powered expedition ship, MS Roald Amundsen, in 2019. The expedition cruise brand now has three battery-hybrid powered ships in its fleet.

"Becoming a green company means investing in efforts with documented effects, such as the ones we are doing now. As a result, by next summer, we will have three upgraded hybrid ships sailing the coast, and our entire fleet will be more energy efficient, cutting CO2-emissions by 25% and NOx by 80%," said Hedda Felin.

Richard With has gone through extensive upgrades and been retrofitted with battery packages, brand new engines, and new propulsion systems at Myklebust Yard in northwestern Norway. All Hurtigruten Norway's seven ships will also be fitted with SCR systems that cut NOx emissions by a massive 80% before the end of summer 2023.

"This is one of the largest environmental upgrades of its kind in Europe, and the largest in Hurtigruten's history. The fact that we have made these upgrades at Myklebust Yard, with as much Norwegian technology as possible, is no coincidence. Hurtigruten Norway has been a contributor to local communities for 130 years and will continue to be so when sailing, building, and upgrading our ships," Felin said.

"Our goal is to get to zero emissions, and the work to plan the next generation zero emission vessels has already started. Until that technology has been pioneered, we are investing heavily in giving our existing fleet a green upgrade with the best technology available today, but our plan is to have the first emission-free ship in our fleet by 2030, and we're working hard on achieving that," said Felin.

The green upgrades o Richard With include:

* Conversion to a hybrid ship with two large battery packs (1,120kWh each) and new, more efficient Norwegian-made engines reduces CO2 emissions considerably with increased redundancy and safety;
* SCR systems that cut NOx emissions by a massive 80%;
* New switchboards and power management systems;
* New propeller blades, new bulbous bow, new gears, and new control systems to minimize energy use;
* New, modern navigational and Maneuvering bridge systems;
* Hull-optimization to reduce drag;
* New boilers to improve heat recovery from main engines for reduced energy consumption used for heating;
* New retractable azimuth thruster astern;
* Installation of state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plants to minimize emissions to sea;
* All ships in Hurtigruten Norway's fleet already have shore power convertibility, eliminating emissions in ports with shore power available;
* The large-scale upgrade means that all Hurtigruten Norway's seven Costal Express ships will have emissions equivalent to Tier III, the strictest international standard for NOx emissions; and
* Hurtigruten Norway will also use certified biofuels to cut CO2 emissions.

RCCL offers $2.0 billion of notes to refinance debt due 2023

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 22 September 2022 22 September 2022

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL) said that it has commenced a private offering of two issues of notes totalling at $2.0 billion to refinance debt maturing in 2023.

The company will offer senior guaranteed notes due 2029 for an aggregate principal amount of $1.0 billion and a concurrent private offering of senior secured notes due 2029 for an aggregate principal amount of $1.0 billion.

“The Company intends to use the proceeds from the sale of the Senior Guaranteed Notes and the Senior Secured Notes, together with cash on hand, to redeem all its outstanding 9.125% Priority Guaranteed Notes due 2023 and 10.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2023, respectively, concurrently with the respective closing of the Senior Guaranteed Notes and Senior Secured Notes offerings (including to pay fees and expenses in connection with such redemptions),” it said in a statement. 

The Senior Guaranteed Notes will be guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by RCI Holdings LLC, which owns 100% of the equity interests of certain of the Company's wholly-owned vessel-owning subsidiaries.

The Senior Secured Notes will be guaranteed by Celebrity Cruises Inc., Celebrity Cruises Holdings Inc. and certain of the Company's wholly-owned vessel owning subsidiaries. 

The Senior Secured Notes and the related guarantees will be secured by 26 of the Company's vessels and material intellectual property of the Company in an amount not to exceed permitted capacity under the Company's existing indebtedness.

The closing of each offering is not contingent upon the closing of the other offering, RCCL said.

Virgin Voyages enters in sustainable marine fuel partnerships

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 22 September 2022 22 September 2022

Virgin Voyages, which is part of the London based Virgin Group of companies, said it is working to make its cruise ships more sustainable, through partnerships with independent sustainability experts the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials, and three leading waste-based sustainable fuel providers.

Following months of research, Virgin Voyages has taken an important step towards a low-carbon future by establishing these key partnerships and is working with multiple partners on sustainable marine fuel supply. Because there’s no one-size-fits-all low-carbon fuel solution, Virgin Voyages will work with three partners through long-term partnerships to develop the best solutions:

Twelve – A carbon transformation company with revolutionary technology using air (not oil) to produce materials and fuel sources

Adopting sustainable fuels, such as those made from waste, or direct air capture of CO2, is essential for reaching net zero by 2050. Virgin Voyages estimates that by switching to sustainable marine fuels, the line will reduce its life-cycle carbon emissions from fuel by 75% or more.

Argent Energy – The European waste-based biodiesel producer with a vision to help decarbonise transport worldwide

Good Fuels – Global market leader of accelerating the transition from harmful emissions into sustainable marine fuel by implementing waste-based technology

“In order to significantly reduce our carbon footprint further, we must transition to lower-carbon fuel sources as soon as possible. We could do this today with our existing engines if more sustainable ‘drop-in’ fuels were available in our ports of call. Unfortunately, these fuels are not yet widely available, and in most cases, are not cost competitive. We want to work with partners to pioneer for the essential change,” said Tom McAlpin, CEO of Virgin Voyages, in a statement. 

“Virgin will always aim to be a leader in the industries we operate in,” added Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group. “We aspire to make the cruise industry better in many ways including through climate action. I’m proud that Virgin Voyages will be working with industry partners and others to shape the future of more sustainable cruise travel and to bring about a real sea change for all.”

 

Virgin Voyages is championing key partnerships across the cruise industry and advocating for supportive policies and incentives that will enable these solutions to reach a great scale. By working collectively with other leading stakeholders to drive demand and increase access to supply, Virgin Voyages is on a mission to change the industry for good. This is an important step in developing the appropriate infrastructure and creating policies that reduce carbon emissions.

Project aims to introduce carbon neutral Finland-Sweden ferry travel by 2027

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 22 September 2022 22 September 2022

The shipbuilder Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC), cruise ferry operator Viking Line, Åbo Akademi university and Kempower that designs and manufactures DC fast charging solutions for electric vehicles are developing a carbon-neutral sea route between Stockholm and Turku.

“Business Finland has granted €1,596,000 funding for a joint project between Rauma Marine Constructions, Viking Line, Åbo Akademi University and Kempower. The project, named Decatrip, aims to develop solutions that enable carbon-neutral shipping between Turku and Stockholm. It is estimated that this target can be reached by 2027,” Kempower said in a statement.

“The solutions developed in the project will enable fully carbon-neutral freight and passenger travel between Turku and Stockholm, but the project will also be scalable for other routes. This is important since all EU countries, Finland included, have signed on to build green maritime transport corridors,” says Mika Laurilehto, interim CEO, RMC.

The Business Finland funding is directed to RMC, Åbo Akademi University and Kempower. In addition, Åland-based Viking Line has received backing from the Government of Åland since Business Finland cannot grant funding to a company from Åland.

Initially, the project will aim to turn a sea route operated by Viking Line carbon neutral. Within the project, RMC is developing energy-efficient solutions for operating the ships, and together with Kempower, for charging electric vehicles on board the ships.

Åbo Akademi University, which acts as a research partner in the project, will be evaluating the societal benefits of the green corridor. PBI Research Institute will coordinate the project. Fuel for the zero-carbon transport is planned to be manufactured locally in Southwest Finland.

Dr. Magnus Gustafsson, Research Director in Industrial Management at Åbo Akademi University, estimates that the decarbonisation of the Viking Line route between Turku and Stockholm can be achieved within five years.

“Consumers increasingly want the products and services they buy to be sustainable, and this is reflected throughout the entire logistics chain. The project is starting from the position that the transition to zero emissions will not increase the costs significantly,” he said.