Norway's Fjords, First Zero Emission Zone At Sea

The Vision of the Fjords, a hybrid propulsion, carbon fiber-hulled tourist boat, was docked in Oslo last year as part of the trade fair Nor-shipping 2017. J.R. Snyder

Norway has long been a leader of green energy and sustainability – and their latest initiative in the fight against climate change is establishing the world’s first emission-free zone at sea.

The nation’s parliament recently adopted new legislation that will require all vessels, ships, and liners entering their iconic fjords to produce zero carbon emissions. Though the resolution is set to be enforced “as soon as technically possible”, the ban will go into full effect in 2026.

With hundreds of thousands of tourists visiting the country’s 1,160 fjords every year, the ban is not only expected to benefit the environment, but also the health of the tourists and local communities.

The initiative is a welcomed follow-up to Norway’s legislation from 2015 that required all ferries in new tenders to be equipped with zero or low-emission technology. As tourist companies prepare for the 2026 deadline, currently existing ships are expected to be supplied with battery-powered electric propulsion or (in the future) hydrogen.


(MARINELOG)



Disclaimer: Stories culled and pictures posted on this blog will be given due credit and is not the fault of drifternews.blogspot.com if website culled from misrepresents source of story.