Could an electric cruise ship be on the horizon?

The Norwegian coastal cruise company Hurtigruten took the first step towards an all-electric cruise ship in ordering two new 530-passenger ships.

The ships, to be built at Kleven Yards in Norway, will have hybrid electric/diesel propulsion. The first ship, which will be ready in 2018, is equipped with an auxiliary electric engine that will reduce C02 emissions by 20%.

The new hybrid technology makes it possible to sail fully electric for 15 to 30 minutes at a time.

The second ship will have a hybrid engine that can power the entire ship for longer periods and distances, including voyages into fjords and other vulnerable areas.

Hurtigruten said that if the technology is ready, large batteries will be installed on the second ship in 2019 that provide the possibility of fully electric sailing across longer distances and over longer periods of time.

The goal is also to refurbish ship No. 1 with the same technology.

“The future of shipping is, without a doubt, silent and emission free,” said  CEO of Hurtigruten, Daniel Skjelda. “We will use our new expeditionary ships as groundbreakers for this new technology and show the world that hybrid propulsion on large ships is possible.”

Tom Stieghorst covers cruises for Travel Weekly magazine.