Hurtigruten tests windassisted passenger ship

15 April 2025

Norwegian shipping company Hurtigruten, known for its ferry services along the Norwegian coast, has announced tests of a first scale model of a wind-assisted passenger ship.

Hurtigruten has been working since 2022 to develop the windassisted Sea Zero concept, a sustainable variant of its Coastal Express ferries. The Norwegian government is placing increasing emphasis on reducing emissions from ferries and cruise ships along the Norwegian coast and in UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as Geirangerfjord, a key part of the Coastal Express route.

The development of the Sea Zero concept is taking place in cooperation with shipbuilder VARD and research institute SINTEF, among others, where an 8-metre scale model is currently being tested. The ship will be equipped with folding sails from French manufacturer Oceanwings, which previously supplied the system for the Canopée, the ship carrying Ariane 6 missile components between Europe and French Guiana. The folding sails will allow the ship to continue passing the many bridges along the coastal route.

According to Gerry Larsson-Fedde, Chief Operating Officer of Hurtigruten, the sails are expected to deliver fuel savings of around 15%. However, to successfully integrate the technology, several modifications were needed from the original design. For instance, to ensure sufficient stability, the height was reduced by one deck and the length was increased to 143.5 metres, which would make this the largest ship in Hurtigruten’s fleet.

Hurtigruten aims to bring the ship into service by 2030. It will accommodate 500 passengers, cars and a significant amount of cargo pallets. Combined with other sustainability measures, it hopes to achieve energy savings of 40-50% compared to current ships.

Windassist sponsor