11bn

The rand equivalent of the amount Norwegian cruise line Hurtigruten plans to invest over three years to power its 17-strong (and growing) fleet partially with rotten fish.

Hurtigruten, best known for its ships that ferry tourists along the country’s fjords and coastline and up into the Arctic, is investing 7-billion crowns to refit its ships with new, leaner engines that will run on a mixture of liquefied biogas (LBG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) and large battery packs.

LBG is a fossil-free, renewable gas produced from dead fish and other organic waste – and the most eco-friendly fuel available.

Hurtigruten CEO Daniel

Skjeldam told the Daily Telegraph: “By introducing biogas as fuel for cruise ships, Hurtigruten will be the first cruise company to power ships with [fossil]-free fuel.

“While competitors are running on cheap, polluting heavy fuel oil, our ships will literally be powered by nature.“

The line is also ordering three new ships that will run on electricity, with a diesel engine only as back-up. Two of them are already in production.