​New hybrid powered cruise ship completes sea trials – Hurtigruten launches pre-inaugural voyages

Hurtigruten’s new hybrid battery powered expedition cruise ship MS Fridtjof Nansen will be completed earlier than expected. As a result, Hurtigruten is adding a series of shorter pre-inaugural voyages.

MS Fridtjof Nansen is packed with green technology and large battery packs and is, alongside her sister ship MS Roald Amundsen, the world’s first battery-hybrid powered cruise ship.

The groundbreaking expedition cruise ship is set for delivery by the end of 2019, well ahead of her April 1st inaugural voyage from Hamburg to the Norwegian coast.

- Pre-inaugural voyages are normally offered to specially invited guests only. We want to share the special occasion and give more explorers the opportunity for a first-hand experience of the incredible MS Fridtjof Nansen and our unique expedition cruises, Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam says.

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Exclusive opportunities – unique destinations

Departing from London (March 7), Liverpool (March 12) and Portsmouth (March 17), the exclusive 5-night pre-inaugural voyages will take guests exploring hand-picked destinations in and around the British Isles. The hybrid powered ship will visit destinations such as Isles of Scilly, Fowey, Isle of Man and Dartmouth.

A 4-night voyage to the Norwegian capital of Oslo will take guests through the Kiel Canal and Aalborg in Denmark, from a spectacular departure point; London’s iconic Tower Bridge.

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BE THE FIRST TO KNOW: REGISTER ON THE LINKS BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE EXCLUSIVE MS FRIDTJOF NANSEN PRE-INAUGURAL VOYAGES

USA - Click here
UK - Click here
Germany - Click here
France - Click here
Australia & New Zealand - Click here
Other markets - Click here

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Through the fjords - battery powered

Photo: Motion Air/Hurtigruten

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Custom built as a small ship taking around 500 guests to some of the most spectacular waters of the planet, MS Fridtjof Nansen is currently in the final stages of outfitting on Norway’s Kleven Yard.

Over the past week, the ship has been undergoing sea trials off the west coast of Norway. With the Norwegian fjords as testing ground – and the famous Sunnmøre alps as a spectacular backdrop – the hybrid powered cruise ship’s advanced, green technology was put to a test. This included her battery packs.

- We are extremely satisfied with the results of the sea trials. In fact, she performed so well that we concluded the tests a full day early. Building on the experience we got from MS Roald Amundsen, we are confident in delivering one of the most advanced vessels in the world by end of the year. In cooperation with the Hurtigruten team, our employees, subcontractors and partners on Fosen Yards have all done a great job, Kleven CEO Kjetil Bollestad says.

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Driving demand – and change

Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam. Photo: RUNE KONGSRO/Hurtigruten

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In addition to the exclusive pre-inaugural voyages, MS Fridtjof Nansen’s maiden season includes a series of cruises from Hamburg to the Norwegian coast, before spending the summer of 2020 exploring Greenland and Iceland. The 2020/2021 winter season she will join her hybrid powered sister ship MS Roald Amundsen for Hurtigruten’s signature Antarctica cruises.

- We see great demand for our expedition cruises across all markets and all destinations. With their green technology and unprecedented focus on sustainable solutions, MS Fridtjof Nansen and MS Roald Amundsen are not only driving demand, they are driving change in the cruise industry, Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam says.

The introduction of the world’s first hybrid powered cruise ships is the latest in a number of Hurtigruten green initiatives. Hurtigruten celebrated its 125th anniversary by banning all single-use-plastics. In another industry first, Hurtigruten is completely rebuilding existing ships to run on a combination of large battery packs, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and biogas (LBG) – produced from organic waste such as dead fish.

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FOR MEDIA: Images and videos of MS Fridtjof Nansen and the sea trials – can be found here: http://bit.ly/ms-fridtjofnansen

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THE MS FRIDTJOF NANSEN PRE-INAUGURAL VOYAGES

Please note that the itineraries are subject to change.

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Pre-inaugural 1

07.03.2020 London (Tilbury)
08.03.2020 Portsmouth
09.03.2020 Portland
10.03.2020 St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly
11.03.2020 Douglas
12.03.2020 Liverpool

Pre-inaugural 2

12.03.2020 Liverpool
13.03.2020 Dublin
14.03.2020 Cardiff
15.03.2020 Fowey
16.03.2020 Dartmouth
17.03.2020 Portsmouth

Pre-inaugural 3

17.03.2020 Portsmouth
18.03.2020 Dartmouth
19.03.2020 St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly
20.03.2020 St. Peter Port
21.03.2020 Ostend
22.03.2020 London (Tower Bridge)

Pre-inaugural 4

23.03.2020 London (Tower Bridge)
24.03.2020 At Sea
25.03.2020 Scenic Navigation: Kiel Canal
26.03.2020 Aalborg
27.03.2020 Oslo

Pre-inaugural 5

28.03.2020 Oslo
29.03.2020 Skagen
30.03.2020 At Sea
31.03.2020 Hamburg

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MS Fridtjof Nansen

MS Fridtjof Nansen and MS Roald Amundsen are the world’s first hybrid powered cruise ships, equipped with large battery packs and groundbreaking green technology.

Built: 2019 Kleven Yards, Norway
Gross tonnage: 20.889
Length: 140 m
Width: 23,6 m
Draft: 5,5 m
Guests: 530 (500 in Antarctica)
Staterooms and suites: 265
Crew: 151
Cruising speed: 15 knots
Ice class: PC-6

On board facilities includes: A fully equipped Science Center, observation decks, infinity pool, panoramic sauna, wellness center, three restaurants, bars, Explorer Lounge, more than 50 % of cabins with private balconies.