Havila Voyages operates their ships with batteries & natural/bio gas. Photo: Martin Giskegjerde, Oclin for Havila Voyages When it left Bergen on Sunday, the Havila Polaris had a strong sense of purpose that went far beyond a regular coastal voyage. This trip marked the ship’s first climate-neutral journey, consisting of a 12-day loop between Hammerfest and Bergen and powered by 350 cubic metres of biogas.
The passenger list reflected the significance of the moment, as international visitors, journalists, and people who live along Norway’s coast all came on board to witness what cleaner shipping can look like right now. According to Havila, using biogas cuts CO₂ emissions by more than 90%, which sends a clear message that greener long-distance travel isn’t a distant goal anymore.
The following day, the focus shifted from the ship to the wider industry. Experts from maritime companies, environmental groups, energy providers, and local politicians in Møre og Romsdal met to discuss how they can move toward shared climate goals.
One particular topic came up repeatedly: the industry needs predictable political support if Norway is going to run climate-neutral coastal routes. Participants argued that stable policies would help create more jobs, strengthen the circular economy, and improve daily life in coastal communities.
“We have a responsibility to the people and communities along our unique coastline. And we know that biogas is already an effective solution for sailing the coastal route with very low emissions without having to make technical changes to our ships. However, to achieve this, we must push ahead with the numerous initiatives to expand and provide the necessary infrastructure,” says Bent Martini, CEO of Havila Voyages.
Bent Martini, CEO of Havila Voyages on the bridge of Havila Polaris. Photo: Havila Voyages Several speakers highlighted how technology, environmental protection, and economic growth can support one another rather than compete. For many, biogas represents a practical bridge to climate-neutral shipping, tourism, and transport. However, they also stressed that the success of biogas projects depends heavily on political decisions.
“We are very pleased that Havila Voyages has decided to take these measures and is demonstrating that emission-free operation along the coastal route is possible,” said Elise Caspersen from the Zero Environmental Foundation.
"Our politicians are not working fast enough. We have seen many good intentions, but in the end they backed down and did not implement the regulations they should have implemented for a greener future.”
Havila Polaris outside Hammerfest. Photo: Martin Giskegjerde, Oclin for Havila VoaygesMolgas Energy and Barents Naturgass supplied the fuel for the historic voyage. The first 200 cubic metres arrived in Hammerfest on November 26, while the remaining 150 cubic metres were delivered in Bergen four days later. By December 11, the Havila Polaris will have travelled more than 5,000 kilometres on biogas and battery power.
“We believe that biogas is one of the best alternatives for achieving significant emissions reductions at sea. These reductions can already be achieved today, while we must continue to expand production capacity,” said Gunnar Helmen of Molgas Energy.
“A company like Havila Voyages, with such clear ambitions and plans, will motivate us to find suppliers and partners who can boost biogas production in Norway…”
Havila Voyages says it remains committed to its environmental targets, even if the journey involves challenges.
“If you want to lead the way, you always have to expect both support and headwinds… That's why we are sticking to our goal of operating the coastal route climate-neutral with all four ships from the end of 2028,” Martini said.