23% Reduction in CO2 Emissions for Passenger Vessel Built in 1993

Kongsberg Maritime has announced a 23% reduction in CO2 emissions on the MS Richard With, a passenger vessel owned by Hurtigruten. The ship underwent an extensive refit using Kongsberg Maritime engineering and technology and has now completed its first year back in service. Last year, Kongsberg Maritime partnered with Myklebust Verft shipyard to convert three Hurtigruten ships to hybrid technology, promising reduced emissions and quieter operations. The MS Richard With was the first ship to be relaunched, followed by the MS Kong Harald, and the final ship, the MS Nordlys, will be completed in 2025. The project is one of the largest of its kind in Europe, with an investment value of approximately €100 million.

The refit program for the MS Richard With included the installation of hybrid shaft generators, lithium-ion batteries, and new engines. It also features new thruster motors, a retractable azimuth thruster, and controllable pitch propeller blades, as well as digital management systems. The vessel is now safer and smoother in the water, providing the crew with reassurance and the ability to operate on full battery, zero-emission operation, auxiliary engines, or main engines. This meets the new requirements for lower-emission travel along the coast.

Ship owners and operators are working to comply with IMO regulations on emissions reduction, and Kongsberg Maritime aims to guide customers through this transition with advisory services and solutions. The company believes that retrofitting existing fleets is a more environmentally friendly option than scrapping and building new vessels.

Source .