Havila Voyages once again tops the rankings

For several years, NABU has produced an international ranking of cruise companies based on their efforts to make the industry more environmentally friendly. Havila Voyages was first included in the ranking in 2023, and has now once again achieved first place, together with Hurtigruten.

“Being ranked number one once again is a great recognition and an important signal that we are on the right track. But we are not at the finish line yet: by 2030, our fleet will sail completely emission-free on the coastal route – both with the four existing ships and any new ships,” explains Bent Martini, CEO of Havila Voyages, thereby underlining the company’s ambitions for further growth in the next tender round.

“At the same time, it is very pleasing to see that the two companies operating the Norwegian coastal route are leading the industry in reducing its environmental impact.”

Germany is the largest cruise market in Europe – and the second largest in the world.

“Receiving such recognition in this market is something we value very highly,” Martini continues.

Northern Europe is one of the most attractive destinations for German passengers, accounting for around 40 per cent of the market. The aspect of sustainability and the prospect of climate-neutral cruises are becoming increasingly important. This is evident from regular surveys conducted by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the global association for the cruise industry.

Already pioneering today
Havila Voyages is planning its first climate-neutral round trip this fall. Using electric propulsion and 100 per cent biogas, the ship will cover approximately 5,000 nautical miles from Bergen to Kirkenes and back to Bergen.

Havila Voyages stated goal is to achieve climate neutrality for its fleet by 2028 and zero emissions by 2030.

The shipping company is also known for its unique food concept, which relies almost exclusively on local, Norwegian suppliers and minimizes food waste.

“Together with our guests, we avoid large amounts of food waste. At the time, we set ourselves the ambitious goal of reducing food waste to 75 grams per guest per day. With an actual figure of 68 grams (2024), we have achieved this goal,“ Martini concluded.

In its press release, NABU points out that the cruise industry still has a long way to go, but the ranking also shows that the right steps have been taken.

“Many cruise operators are heading in the right direction when it comes to climate protection – for example, with energy-efficient new ships or technical improvements to existing fleets. Some are testing pioneering technologies for the first time“, says Sönke Diesener, shipping expert at NABU.

More sustainability on traditional route
Since the end of 2021, the new and multi-award-winning ships of the Norwegian shipping company Havila Voyages have been operating on the traditional, over 130-year-old coastal route between Bergen in the south and Kirkenes in the north – year-round and, under the northern lights or the midnight sun. A total of 34 ports is called at on the 12-day round trip.

The four state-of-the-art ships of Havila Voyages are currently powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and are equipped with some of the largest battery packs ever installed on passenger ships. The onboard battery packs, which are charged while docked, allow Havila Kystruten to sail through the vulnerable ecosystems of Norwegian fjords and along the coast for up to four hours at a time – completely silent and emission-free.

The ships operate as plug-in hybrids and reduce CO2 emissions by 35%, NOx emissions by 87%, and SOx emissions by 100%, compared to reference figures from the coastal route in 2017 – when the route was operated by diesel-powered vessels. This makes Havila Voyages’ coastal cruise ships frontrunners in more eco-friendly operations along the Norwegian coast.