Bergen Engines Enable Hurtigruten’s First Near-Zero Emission Voyage
For the first time, Hurtigruten’s coastal vessel MS Richard With has completed a long-distance voyage running entirely on biodiesel, battery power, and shore electricity, achieving emissions reductions close to 100 percent along Norway’s coastal route.
The milestone voyage demonstrates how existing vessels can transition rapidly to near-zero emission operations using proven technology. Powered by Bergen Engines’ medium-speed propulsion engines, Richard With shows that decarbonization is already possible, without waiting for new future fuels, new vessel designs, or large infrastructure changes.
Key Facts
Powered by Bergen
MS Richard With is equipped with two Bergen B33:45L6P engines, selected for their durability, efficiency, and ability to operate seamlessly on renewable biofuels.
During the 5,000-kilometre, 11-day voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes and back, the engines ran on HVO100 biodiesel produced from waste feedstocks such as used cooking oil, delivering near-zero lifecycle emissions while maintaining the vessel’s full operational capability.
Setting a New Standard for Sustainable Passenger Shipping
Importantly, the transition to biofuel required no changes to engine hardware, operating procedures, or maintenance routines. This allows operators to decarbonize immediately while retaining the same reliability standards demanded by high-frequency coastal services.
The voyage forms part of Hurtigruten’s broader environmental upgrade programme, which has already delivered major emissions reductions across its coastal fleet through hybridization, shore power connectivity, and advanced exhaust treatment systems.
By enabling full biofuel operation with no trade-offs in performance or uptime, Bergen Engines is helping shipowners move from ambition to action. The same proven medium-speed engine platforms that power conventional operations can offer operators a practical pathway to decarbonization without fleet replacement.
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