Cruise company Havila Voyages has outlined its ambitious climate goals and current successes in its first ever sustainability and human rights report.
The report highlighted the company’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2028 and zero emissions by 2030, notably using the ships that Havila, part of the Havila Holding group, is using today.
CEO Bent Martini described the process of achieving Havila’s goals, saying: “It starts with gradually replacing natural gas with biogas and the goal is to be carbon-neutral by 2028. After that, we will switch to emission-free fuel alternatives such as hydrogen.”
Martini also took the opportunity to comment on the company’s ambitions to produce only 75g of food waste per person by using locally sourced ingredients and eliminating buffets on its cruises, potentially reducing overall food waste by 60 tons per year.
He revealed that Havila has managed to limit food waste to just 71g per person: “We have accomplished this thanks to the fantastic efforts of those who have developed our food concept, those who prepare and serve the food on board and, not least, our guests who are made aware of the concept.”
Since its first ship, Havila Capella, took its maiden voyage in late 2021, Havila Voyages has sought to place itself as a sustainability leader in the cruise industry, which has gained a reputation for being particularly damaging to the climate.
Describing why the company had released the report, Martini said: “We believe that our sustainable approach to coastal tourism and our focus on climate and the environment are a positive contribution to the transition to a zero-emission society.
“We look forward to continuing our journey and doing our part to make tourism and shipping more sustainable socially and environmentally.”
Havila’s actions on this front include the use of advanced battery packs allowing for emission-free and silent operation for up to four hours at a time, something that was showcased during a visit to one of Norway’s natural wonders.
Martini further added: “Last year, we made history as the world's first cruise company to sail into the Geirangerfjord UNESCO World Heritage Site emission-free and silently, four years before the Norwegian government's requirement for emission-free ferries and ships in the World Heritage areas comes into effect.”
Currently operating two vessels on its Norwegian cruise routes, the company will be doubling its fleet with the launch of two more cruise ships later in the month of June, the Havila Polaris and Havila Pollux, after months of delay surrounding licensing difficulties.
