Battery-powered Roald Amundsen delivered from the Kleven Yard

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 01 July 2019 01 July 2019

These images show Hurtigruten’s hybrid powered 20,889 gross ton and 530-guest Roald Amundsen making maritime history – as the first cruise ship in the world to sail purely on battery power.

The moment – when the brand new expedition cruise ship moved through the water silent and completely emission free, powered by her large battery packs only - was captured off the west coast of Norway.

Specially designed for some of the most spectacular waters of the planet, Roald Amundsen features groundbreaking green technology such as the large battery packs which was put to the test as she left Kleven Yard for her maiden voyage.

"This opens a new chapter in maritime history. Roald Amundsen is the first cruise ship equipped with batteries, something deemed impossible just a few years back. With the introduction of Roald Amundsen, Hurtigruten sets a new standard not only for cruising, but for the entire shipping industry to follow," Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam says.

Named after polar hero Roald Amundsen – who led the first expedition to traverse the Northwest Passage, the first expedition to the south pole and the first expedition proven to have reached the North Pole – Roald Amundsen is set to honor his legacy.
20% CO2 reduction

Starting this summer, the hybrid powered cruise ship will explore some of the most spectacular areas of the planet using the battery packs to support her low-emission engines. The hybrid propulsion will reduce CO2 emissions with more than 20 % compared to other ships of the same size.

The stunning scenery will be reflected in a modern Scandinavian design – with features spanning from the high-tech Amundsen Science Center, vast observation decks, an infinity pool, panoramic sauna, wellness center, three restaurants, bars, Explorer Lounge, aft-facing suites with private outdoor hot tubs, and the laidback atmosphere that creates the special Hurtigruten on board feel.

"Roald Amundsen is designed and built with sustainability at core of every little detail. In addition to the green technology, this makes her the first cruise ship in the world designed to be single-use plastic free. Sustainability will also be an integral part of the guest experience. From the hand-picked Hurtigruten Expedition Team to the industry-first Science Center, we will give the guests a deeper understanding of the areas we explore," Skjeldam says.

Hurtigruten took delivery of the world’s first hybrid powered cruise ship from Norway’s Kleven yard last week. She has been built alongside sister ship Fridtjof Nansen, debuting in 2020.

"In the world of ship building, some projects stand out. This is one of them. Roald Amundsen is not only one of the most advanced expedition cruise ships in the world, she is also a premium cruise ship with a number of groundbreaking solutions. We are extremely proud of the ship, which is the result of a tremendous team effort of the Kleven employees and our sub-contractors," Kleven project manager Asbjørn Vattøy says.

Highly experienced Hurtigruten captain Kai Albrigtsen was at helm as Roald Amundsen left the yard for her maiden voyage along the Norwegian coast.

"To captain a new ship and bring her from the shipyard is always an honor. With Roald Amundsen being a green pioneer, makes this moment truly special to me and the rest of the crew. I am extremely impressed of the ship, the technology and how she handles. Now, we are all really looking forward to welcoming the first guests on board and create life-long memories together," Albrigtsen says.

From pole to pole

Roald Amundsen’s maiden season includes expedition cruises along the Norwegian coast, to Svalbard and Greenland, before becoming the first hybrid powered ship to attempt a traverse of the legendary Northwest Passage – following in the wake of the namesake explorer Roald Amundsen’s famed expedition.

In addition to eco-friendly expedition cruises along the west coast of North- and South-America - with destinations bigger cruise ships cannot reach - MS Roald Amundsen will head to the extreme south for a full 2019/2020 Antarctica season.

Helsinki Shipyard and Vodohod sign a contract for two luxury expedition cruise ships

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 28 June 2019 28 June 2019

Helsinki Shipyard pictured in 2017

Helsinki Shipyard Oy and Russia’s largest river cruise company Vodohod Ltd have signed a contract for two expedition cruise ships. The vessels are intented to operate in high latitude areas both in the Arctic and Antarctic waters as well as in the tropical waters during the spring and autumn seasons.

The design work for the project has already started at Helsinki Shipyard Oy. The first vessel is planned to be delivered in August 2021 and the second vessel in January 2022.

The vessels measure abt. 110 metres in length and 20 meters in breadth. The vessels will have an ice class PC6. The passenger capacity will be 148 persons and the maximum number of crew onboard will be 110 persons.

“We are very proud and happy for the first order of the new shipyard and I believe this now proves to everyone that we have started a new chapter in the operation of Helsinki Shipyard. We will strengthen especially our design department in the near future and in connection with the start of production, also our production department. We invite everyone interested to contact our human resources department.” Says Carl-Gustaf Rotkirch, CEO of Helsinki Shipyard Oy.

Vodohod is a Russian cruise company and river cruise line operator, founded in 2004 by the Volga Shipping Company and named after Ivan Kulibin’s “water-going vessel” or “water-goer”. The company has its headquarters in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, Russia. The company operates more than 50 passenger ships along rivers of Volga, Don, Kama, the Moscow and Volga-Don canals, the Volga-Baltic Waterway, Northern-Western rivers, lakes Ladoga and Onega.