Sunday afternoon, December 9, Hurtigruten launched its new expedition ship MS Fridtjof Nansen at Ulsteinvik-based Kleven Shipyard. The hybrid-powered cruise ship is equipped with batteries allowing it to operate free of charge for shorter periods.
Kleven Shipyard had opened its gates for the crowd who streamed to see the vessel glide into the water.
Just like sister ship MS Roald Amundsen, Fridtjof Nansen is planned to be used for cruise expeditions, which are partly far off the coast. Among the destinations visited are Antarctica, Greenland, Northwest Passage, Svalbard, and South America.
The first tours are scheduled to take place from 2019 with MS Roald Amundsen and 2020 with MS Fridtjof Nansen. Kleven has a contract for the building of a 3rd hybrid-driven expedition ship, scheduled for delivery in 2021.