HAV Group and Havila Kystruten (Havila Voyages) are partnering to ensure a coastal route fleet that will be at least climate neutral – with the ambition of achieving zero emissions. Together, the current four ships, along with future newbuilds, will meet the requirements of the next tender period.
Havila Kystruten CEO Bent Martini has outlined the company’s clear goal of growth and climate neutrality for the Bergen – Kirkenes – Bergen coastal route in the next contract period.
Martini said: “We have ambitions for growth, and want to grow on the coastal route. And we want to grow with a coastal route fleet consisting of ships that can deliver on the environmental requirements of the future, which we expect and hope the authorities will set in the new contract. Our message to politicians and decision-makers is clear: Climate neutrality should be an absolute minimum in the next contract. And we will deliver on that from day one.”
Martini pointed out that stricter environmental requirements are entirely possible with today’s technology, and he hopes that politicians will stand by the requirements they set.
Martini continued: “If Norwegian authorities are serious about their environmental ambitions, the ships on the coastal route can be a beacon for the green shift in shipping and create synergies with other parts of the industry. The technology exists, and the opportunities are there. It is about the will to make the investments that are required. With strict environmental requirements from the authorities, those who want to operate the coastal route will have to deliver. The problem for the maritime industry, when politicians waver in their decisions as we saw in the World Heritage fjords, is that no one dares to invest in the green shift. At the same time, many players are in glass houses. They talk about climate, environment and sustainability, but do very little about it. Among other things, it is about the politicians being unpredictable when they do not set clear requirements, or change the requirements along the way.”
Havila Kystruten is reported to be looking at the possibility of sailing a climate-neutral round trip on the coastal route in Autumn 2025.
Martini said: “Right now we are in the planning phase to be able to test an entire round trip on the coastal route this fall, using biogas in combination with our large battery packs. We are in dialogue with suppliers to get sufficient volume in place so that we fill the tanks 100% with biogas, and we believe we will succeed in doing so. Then one of our ships will already this fall prove that it is possible to sail over 5,000 nautical miles, the entire Bergen – Kirkenes – Bergen Coastal Route, climate-neutrally.”
Havila Kystruten parent HAV Group is looking forward to the current coastal route fleet being further optimised, with the possibility of new ships to be designed.
HAV Group CEO Gunnar Larsen said: “The challenge Havila Kystruten has given us is great, but we are ready and confident that we will deliver on the requirements set. Together with our subsidiaries and partners, and together with the Norwegian maritime cluster, we can create something completely unique. This can be Norwegian value creation in practice, where everything from development, design and construction takes place with Norwegian suppliers on Norwegian soil. The authorities can set requirements that promote both sustainable coastal route operations and the development of the Norwegian maritime cluster – it will be a win-win.”
Image: Gunnar Larsen and Bent Martini during Arendal Week 2025 (credit: Havila Kystruten)
