Large passenger vessels to be converted to run on LBG for first time

In Norway, global marine solutions and system integration expert, Høglund, was awarded a contract to deliver biogas-ready fuel gas supply systems for six Hurtigruten passenger ship retrofits. The project will mark the first time a large passenger vessel has been converted to run on Liquified Biogas (LBG) – a fossil-free, renewable gas produced from organic waste, such as food waste – including, notably – rotting fish.

The difficulty of converting an existing passenger vessel and meeting the necessary safety requirements for tank placement demands highly specialised design and engineering.

Høglund will work together with HB Hunte Engineering to design and engineer fully customised tank and FGSS solutions for each of the six vessels, optimised to run on both liquified natural gas (LNG) and liquified biogas (LBG).

Hurtigruten, a leader in the Arctic and Antarctic expedition cruise segment, will use Høglund and HB Hunte’s bespoke FGSS solutions in tandem with large battery packs onboard its vessels, replacing its older engines which run on marine gas oil.

Peter Morsbach, Project Director, Høglund Gas Solutions, said, “We are tremendously excited to be involved in such a forward-looking project, which will undoubtedly set a new benchmark for low-carbon emissions in the rapidly evolving cruise sector.