Hurtigruten has announced a historic milestone in sustainable cruising. On October 29, 2025, the company will operate its first-ever climate-neutral sailing powered entirely by advanced biofuel.

For the voyage, the battery-hybrid ship Richard With will travel along its regular Norwegian coastal route from Bergen to Kirkenes and back. Unlike normal sailings, the ship’s tanks will be filled with 100 percent advanced biofuel, making the entire journey climate neutral.

Hedda Felin, CEO of Hurtigruten, shared her excitement about this step forward. “Our ships already sail on blended biofuel, but for the first time, we will carry out the entire sailing on 100 percent advanced biofuel,” she said.

She added that sustainability is central to Hurtigruten’s operations. “For us at Hurtigruten, it is important to do what we can to reduce emissions, and this voyage is an example of how biofuel can play a key role in achieving Norway’s climate goals.”

The voyage itself is one of the world’s most scenic and well-known sailings. It covers a 4,000-kilometre round trip along the Norwegian coastline, considered one of the longest coastlines on the planet. The Richard With will also connect to shore power wherever it is available, further reducing its environmental footprint during the trip.

This milestone has been years in the making. Since 2022, Hurtigruten has invested more than €100 million in upgrading its fleet with new technology and environmental improvements. These upgrades have helped cut CO2 and NOx emissions across the company’s ships.

At the same time, Hurtigruten has been gradually increasing the use of biofuels. The upcoming voyage will use HVO100 (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil), an advanced waste-based biofuel supplied by the energy company St1. The fuel is made from renewable waste materials, making it a sustainable and safe alternative to traditional fuels.

“Our long-term vision is to be able to sail completely emission-free in normal operation,” said Felin. “Advanced biofuels make it possible to achieve major emission cuts with our existing fleet. This is proven and safe technology, and at the same time can help protect the climate from large emissions created by the construction of new ships.”

Hurtigruten is also developing other solutions for the future through its “Sea Zero” project. The initiative aims to design a new generation of ships that can sail without producing emissions during normal operations.

Looking further ahead, Felin explained that Hurtigruten plans to build new ships that reduce total energy demand by as much as 40 to 50 percent. These vessels would run primarily on batteries, supported by innovations such as sails, air lubrication for hulls, efficient design, and contra-rotating propellers.

With the October 2025 sailing, Hurtigruten is sending a strong message to the cruise industry. By proving that climate-neutral voyages are possible with current ships and advanced biofuels, the company is taking a big step toward its long-term vision of emission-free cruising.