Havila plans 12-day climate-neutral cruise in Norway

Published on Aug 31, 2025, 9:41 am CDT

6 min read

Norway's Havila Voyages says it will attempt what could be the world's longest climate-neutral cruise as early as this fall, a 12-day round trip between Bergen and Kirkenes that spans about 9,260 kilometers. The pilot would combine biogas with large onboard battery packs, part of a new collaboration with marine-tech firm HAV Group aimed at driving emissions toward zero on the country's storied coastal route. Chief executive Bent Martini previewed the plan during Norway's Arendalsuka forum and urged stricter national rules to accelerate the transition.

Key Points

Why it matters: A successful pilot would mark the longest climate-neutral cruise to date and pressure rivals to scale low-carbon tech.
Travel impact: Expect quieter sailings in sensitive fjords and growing demand for lower-emission itineraries along Norway's coast.
What's next: Havila is sourcing enough biogas for tanks to be filled 100 percent, targeting a full-route test in the fall.
Batteries already enable up to four hours of emission-free running in select areas.
The company's long-term goal is zero-emission operations on the route by 2030.

Snapshot

Havila Voyages and HAV Group have formed a partnership to make the Bergen-Kirkenes-Bergen fleet at least climate neutral, with an ambition of zero emissions. The near-term step is a 12-day climate-neutral cruise powered by biogas and large batteries across more than 5,000 nautical miles, pending fuel availability. Martini says the pilot could run this fall if suppliers can provide sufficient volumes of biogas. The ships already carry some of the largest battery packs at sea, allowing emission-free approaches in fragile areas when shore power is available for charging. Havila is also pushing authorities for stricter environmental requirements in the next coastal-route contract period to speed adoption across operators.

Background

Cruise ships remain among the most carbon-intensive travel options on a per passenger basis. The International Council on Clean Transportation estimates the world's largest, most efficient cruise ships emit about 250 grams of CO₂ per passenger-kilometer, a figure that exceeds many commercial flights. That baseline has intensified pressure from governments and travelers for cleaner itineraries. Norway has been a testbed, mixing hydropower-fed shore charging with hybrid vessels on routes that stitch together small coastal communities. Industry peers are moving too. Hurtigruten's "Sea Zero" concept targets a zero-emission coastal ship with a 60 MWh battery bank by 2030. Viking and Fincantieri, meanwhile, have detailed Viking Libra, billed as the first hydrogen-powered cruise ship, with delivery expected in late 2026. Together, these projects signal a pivot toward batteries, cleaner fuels, and fuel cells rather than conventional marine gasoil.

Latest Developments

How the climate-neutral cruise would work

Havila's test would pair biogas, produced from organic waste, with the line's large battery packs to balance or offset voyage-wide greenhouse gases across the Bergen-Kirkenes-Bergen loop. The company says its ships can already operate emission-free for up to four hours where charging is available, enabling silent transits through sensitive fjords. The fall pilot hinges on securing enough biogas to fill tanks entirely, a procurement effort that is now under way with suppliers. If successful, Havila believes one ship could complete the entire 12-day route climate neutrally this year, and then apply findings to future tenders on Norway's coastal contract.

Norway's coastal route as a green proving ground

Martini used the Arendalsuka stage to call for stricter national standards on the coastal route, arguing that clear rules would unlock investment and make climate neutrality the minimum for bidders. HAV Group says it is ready to optimize today's four-ship fleet and design potential newbuilds to meet those targets. The partnership frames the coastal route as a lighthouse project for the broader maritime industry, leveraging Norway's shore-power network and supplier ecosystem to scale biogas, batteries, and next-gen systems.

Competitors race to decarbonize

Rivals are advancing parallel technologies. Hurtigruten's Sea Zero program details a next-generation vessel concept with a 60 MWh battery and wind-assisted features, aiming for operations on the Norwegian coast by 2030. Viking's hydrogen program is moving from plans to ships in build, with Viking Libra slated for late 2026 and a sister, Viking Astrea, to follow in 2027. For travelers comparing options, see Adept coverage of Viking's pipeline in Viking Vesta Debuts With Sustainable Ambitions and Viking Mira Float Out Marks 2026 Debut.

Analysis

Havila's plan blends pragmatism with ambition. Biogas is a drop-in fuel for LNG-capable systems, so the engineering leap is smaller than an immediate switch to hydrogen or full battery propulsion. Pairing it with large batteries, and charging from Norway's hydropower-heavy grid where possible, can cut tank-to-wake emissions and mute noise in fjords. The harder pieces are upstream. Securing sufficient volumes of biogas with traceable, additional climate benefits, then transporting and storing it at coastal facilities, will determine whether climate neutrality scales beyond a one-off pilot. Transparent accounting, including well-to-wake impacts and any offsets, will be essential if the claim is to withstand scrutiny.

Policy will shape momentum. Norway's postponement of strict fjord rules dented certainty, but the next coastal-route tender is a chance to set predictable requirements and timelines. If the government codifies climate-neutral baselines and rewards zero-emission capability, suppliers will invest in bunkering and charging that benefit all operators. Competitive pressure is rising too. Hurtigruten's Sea Zero timeline and Viking's hydrogen builds suggest a market where travelers can choose based on verified emissions, not just itineraries. In that context, Havila's fall attempt works as an R&D voyage with marketing upside, a data-gathering run that could lower the risk for future newbuilds or retrofits. Success would not end the debate over cruising's footprint, but it would move the conversation from "if" to "how fast."

Final Thoughts

For a route defined by small ports and big scenery, Norway's coastal ships are becoming a laboratory for cleaner maritime travel. Havila's fall pilot will test whether biogas supply, charging access, and battery management can cover a 12-day round trip climate neutrally, while setting a higher bar for the next coastal-route contract. With hydrogen and ultra-efficient designs on the horizon, travelers should expect more low-emission choices in Northern Europe within two years. If the numbers hold up under scrutiny, this could be the moment cruising's green shift moves from promises to practice, led by a climate-neutral cruise.