Norwegian Cruise Operator Signs Commitment for HFO Free Arctic

Norway's Hurtigruten has signed the Clean Arctic Alliance's Arctic Commitment.

The Clean Arctic Alliance, an international coalition of environmental organisations campaigning for a ban on heavy fuel oil use in the Arctic, Wednesday announced that Daniel Skjeldam, CEO of Hurtigruten AS (Hurtigruten), signed the Arctic Commitment along with Dr. Sian Prior, the alliance's lead advisor.

"The use of heavy fuel oil (HFO) has already been banned in the Antarctic, now it's time to ban it in the Arctic as well," said Skjeldam.

"The shipping industry must be frontrunners in promoting regulations that will secure sustainable Arctic growth."

Hurtigruten is noted to have chosen not to use HFO in any of its ships, and last April announced that it has intentions of transitioning to vessels with dual battery-bio fuel propulsion.

"The Arctic Commitment makes a clear challenge to businesses and organisations - join us and take part in persuading the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that it must phase out the use of HFO in Arctic shipping by 2020," said Prior.

"This is a real opportunity for shipping companies operating in the Arctic to show leadership, by switching from HFO before such a ban is in place."

Leading up to Wednesday's signing event, which took place in Tromsø, Norway, the alliance says a number of other companies and organisations also stepped forward to also add their names to the Arctic Commitment.

"The debate on HFO is over - now action is needed. Banning the use of heavy fuel oil to power Arctic shipping will not only minimise the risk of spills, but will also help reduce climate-warming emissions in the region," said Christoph Wolff, Managing Director of the European Climate Foundation.

"The Clean Arctic Alliance is calling on the international community to sign up to the Arctic Commitment, so that with one voice, we can urge the IMO to phase out HFO from Arctic waters."

In July, Hurtigruten announced that it had christened its new explorer ship MS Spitsbergen after it received technical improvements to reduce emissions and fuel consumption.