Climate-Neutral Cruising
Bergen Engines Enables World-First Biogas Voyage for Havila Polaris
In a global first for passenger shipping, Havila Polaris has completed a long-distance coastal voyage powered entirely by batteries and renewable biogas, proving that climate-neutral cruise operations are possible today using existing, commercially available technology.
The 34-port round trip along Norway’s coastline, from Bergen to Kirkenes and back, marks a major milestone for the maritime sector and demonstrates how Bergen Engines’ medium-speed gas technology is enabling immediate, scalable emissions reductions without compromising safety, reliability or performance.
Key Facts
Biogas in Real-World Operation
Delivered in 2022, Havila Polaris operates on a hybrid propulsion system combining large battery capacity with four gas engines supplied by Bergen Engines. For this historic voyage, the vessel ran entirely on renewable biogas and battery power, consuming approximately 350 cubic metres of liquid biogas over 12 days, cutting lifecycle CO₂ emissions by more than 90 percent compared to conventional marine fuels.
All four ships in the Havila fleet — Capella, Castor, Polaris and Pollux — are powered by Bergen Engines, selected for their efficiency, durability and adaptability to low- and zero-carbon fuels. This flexibility enables ship owners to decarbonise progressively, starting with LNG today, switching to biogas where available, and positioning vessels for hydrogen and other future fuels as they become available, while retaining the same core propulsion system and service model.
Importantly, Bergen’s engines deliver these environmental benefits without trade-offs in uptime or operational reliability, a critical factor for passenger vessels operating tight schedules along complex coastal routes.
A Blueprint for Cruise Decarbonization
Maritime transport faces increasing regulatory pressure to reduce emissions while maintaining operational resilience, passenger comfort and commercial viability.
By enabling biogas operation with no performance penalties, no retrofit complexity and no impact on reliability, Bergen Engines is providing cruise operators with a credible bridge from today’s LNG infrastructure to tomorrow’s low- and zero-carbon fuels, supporting both immediate climate targets and long-term fleet transition strategies.
As the industry accelerates toward decarbonisation, Havila Polaris stands as proof that climate-neutral passenger shipping is no longer a future ambition. It is already underway.
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