Havila Voyages embarks on fleet’s first biogas-powered sailing

Havila Voyages has embarked on the fleet’s first biogas-powered sailing, departing from Bergen.

Havila Polaris took on 350 cubic meters of liquefied biogas in the Norwegian city on November 30 to enable it to sail a 12-day voyage to Kirkenes, which the Norwegian specialist says will reduce the total climate footprint of the sailing by “at least 91.7%” and nitrogen oxide (Nox) and sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions by 100%.

Total emissions from the cruise will be cut by 30 to 55 tons of carbon dioxide equivalents.  

Biogas is considered an emission-free energy source and comes from organic materials that are already part of the carbon cycle, and so emissions from the cruise are considered to be “negative” as they are subtracted from total carbon emissions.

The fleet currently sails using hybrid battery and liquefied natural gas (LNG) and has targets to be carbon neutral by 2028, and emission free by 2030.

Addressing trade and media on board, chief executive Bent Martini said: “We are quite sure we will be able to have 100% availability of biogas by 2028. That’s the target for us as a company together with our partners.

“It will be produced in Norway and it should be a short journey, then we will be climate neutral. That is a promise, it is not a marketing stunt.”

He said using a combination of biogas and battery packages had reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 38% by the third quarter this year when compared with a diesel-operated vessel.

Martini added the operator was “prepared” for its ships to use hydrogen by next year at the earliest, having built and tested a prototype and awaiting a government decision.

He said: “These vessels are the only ones in the world to have preliminary approval from the Norwegian Maritime Directorate.

“We have built and tested the prototype, and we are waiting for the Norwegian government to say what it would like to do going forward.”