First Climate-Neutral Cruise Using Biogas Planned Along Norway’s Coastal Route

The Norwegian cruise line Havila Voyages plans to offer the first climate-neutral cruise along the Norwegian coast at the end of November, powered by liquefied biogas.

Initially, the ship Havila Polaris will begin its journey in Hammerfest with 200 cubic meters of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Two days later, a further refueling with 150 cubic meters of liquefied biogas is scheduled in Bergen. This will enable the vessel to operate along the entire Norwegian coastal route, the so-called Coastal Express route, according to Havila Voyages’ website.

By August 2028, the company aims to operate all its voyages entirely on biogas. Havila emphasizes short supply chains and regional production along the Norwegian coast. Since August, the company has been working intensively to secure sufficient biogas supplies and is pleased that, thanks to two suppliers, enough fuel is now available for the entire voyage, says Havila CEO Bent Martini.

The cruise line expects to achieve greenhouse gas reductions of around 90 percent. Martini particularly highlights the additional environmental benefits of biogas: in addition to the significant CO₂ reduction, there is also a marked decrease in local pollutants such as nitrogen and sulfur oxides, which are completely avoided when operating on biogas.
“This has a tremendous impact on air quality in the 34 ports along our route,” says Martini. “Biogas plays an important role in the circular economy. It helps address waste management challenges and utilizes resources such as food waste, animal manure, and wastewater sludge from fisheries to produce energy.”

Currently, Havila Voyages operates four LNG-powered ships along the Norwegian coast. In combination with large battery systems, these vessels already achieve around 35 percent CO₂ reductions compared to conventional diesel operations. The switch from liquefied natural gas to biogas requires no technical modifications, as both fuels share similar chemical properties.