HURTIGRUTEN’S recent climate-neutral voyage (CW 03 Nov) showed the cruise line the extent of what is possible with its current fleet and existing technology, chief executive officer Hedda Felin has said.
The Hurtigruten head, speaking to Cruise Weekly in Sydney last week, said the step towards climate-neutral sailing, while small, was necessary to better understand what is feasible, both for the cruise sector and for regulatory officials.
“I think it was an eye-opener for many,” explained Felin, pictured left aboard the biofuel sailing with COO Gerry Larsson-Fedde.
“We had an open ship in every harbour, and we invited all the local politicians in to talk about sustainability and what’s possible with the current technologies and opportunities we have today,” Felin said.
“It’s about the longevity of the fleet, and what can be used with the ships we have today, so it will have a real impact on that discussion,” she added.
Although there are clear limitations to biofuel within the cruise sector, including its high cost, Felin said waiting for the perfect technology to be developed is not a solution either.
“I really like to be concrete and use what’s possible…it’s not perfect, but we can’t wait for perfect,” she explained.
“If we don’t welcome them, we miss out on so many emissions-reduction initiatives…there are many parts to the solution, and this is one,” she added. MS
