Norway confirms zero-emission requirement for cruise ships in fjords

Norway is moving forward with its policy mandating that only zero-emission cruise ships be permitted to sail through its UNESCO World Heritage fjords.

IMAGE: An aerial view of Lysefjorden, Norway. Getty Images

The Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) has said in a statement that all passenger vessels of less than 10,000 gross tonnage, including cruise ships and ferries, must adhere to zero-emission requirements from 1 January 2026.

A deadline of 1 January 2032 has been set for larger vessels of 10,000 gross tonnage or more, according to the NMA.

“The NMA, on behalf of the Government, is introducing zero-emission requirements for cruise ships, tourist boats and ferries in the World Heritage fjords,” it said.

To accommodate a smoother transition from conventional marine fuels to clean options, the government has allowed use of biogas as a temporary alternative, through 2032.

Although biogas burns cleaner than traditional options like MGO, it still falls short of the zero-emission benchmark Norway has set to preserve its iconic fjords.

Additionally, cruise ships will be mandated to connect to shore power systems where such facilities are available, NMA said.

By Aparupa Mazumder

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