World News
Construction Begins on World's First Battery-Powered Expedition Cruise Ship
Construction is now underway on the MS Roald Amundsen at Norway's Kleven Verft AS (Kleven) shipyard for Hurtigruten AS (Hurtigruten), which hails the vessel as the world's first expedition cruise ship to be powered by hybrid battery technology, Maritime Executive reports.
MS Roald Amundsen, the first of a series of two hybrid battery-powered vessels set for Hurtigruten, is scheduled to be launched in 2018.
The second vessel in the series, MS Fridtjof Nansen, is scheduled to be deployed in 2019.
As Ship & Bunker reported in July, Rolls-Royce, through a £25 million ($32.78 million) contract with Kleven, is responsible for the two vessels' design and equipment, including the supply of a bunker-saving wave piercing bow.
"The new Hurtigruten exploration ships Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen will showcase the very latest in innovative environmentally friendly technology. New hybrid technology will make sailing with electric propulsion for 15-30 minutes a reality and substantially longer for ships to come," explained Hurtigruten previously.
"However, the total reduction in fuel consumption and hence CO2-emissions, is the main gain. The technology, in combination with the construction of the hull and effective use of electricity on board, will reduce emissions from the ships by 20 percent."
Last month, Daniel Skjeldam, Hurtigruten's CEO, signed the Arctic Commitment along with the Clean Arctic Alliance, an international coalition of environmental organisations campaigning for a ban on heavy fuel oil use in the Arctic.
Key Bunker Prices More
| VLSFO | MGO | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $/mt | +/- | $/mt | +/- | |
| Singapore | 655.50 | 2.00 | 808.50 | 4.50 |
| Rotterdam | 619.00 | 0.00 | 789.00 | 8.00 |
| Houston | 628.50 | 7.50 | 812.50 | 1.50 |
| Fujairah | 653.50 | 4.50 | 900.00 | 2.50 |
| Global 20 Ports Average | 672.00 | 0.50 | 885.00 | 7.00 |
| Global 4 Ports Average | 639.00 | 2.50 | 827.50 | 2.00 |
| Global Average Bunker Price | 727.50 | 1.50 | 933.50 | 5.00 |
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