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- Starting in 2026, Norway will implement zero emission requirements for fjord vessels.
- The regulations aim to reduce air and noise pollution from cruise ships and protect the natural environment.
- The rules will initially apply to smaller passenger vessels where larger vessels from 2032 are facing requirements.
Ashley Correia was standing on the pool deck of a celebrity cruise ship taking a view in late May. But rather than a clear ocean view, the 42-year-old saw the flow of water through the mountains on either side of the celebrity’s pinnacle.
The ship was passing the seven sisters waterfalls in Geirangerfjord, Norway. “Anywhere you saw it was like a screensaver from a computer,” she said of the trip.
The Berkeley, Massachusetts resident joined his mother on a cruise through a stop to Norwegian fjords and Belgium after his father unexpectedly passed away. Correia, who owns a liquor promotional company and produces travel content in Tiktok, had previously cruised, including watching glaciers in Alaska, but felt that Norway’s voyage was “like an Alaskan cruise on steroids.”
“It was just so (magnificent),” she said.
Norway is taking steps to keep it that way. The country will establish new zero emission requirements for passenger ships starting in 2026, with the aim of reducing the environmental impact of vessels and providing a model for more sustainable cruise tourism. It could also affect the cruiser’s travel plans.
What are Norway’s zero emission requirements?
The zero emissions requirement applies to the Western Norway fjords, Geiranger fjords and Nearroyfjords, among the longest and deepest fjords in the world. The site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2005.
The regulations require that “the energy sources used do not directly emit carbon dioxide (CO2) or methane (CH4), according to policy documents from the Norwegian Maritime Authority. “Fuels that generate direct greenhouse gas emissions can be used to the extent necessary to ignite the energy source. If nitrous oxide (N2O) is produced using an energy source that meets the zero emission requirement, the vessel shall use the best available technology to reduce such emissions.”
Passenger ships must be connected to coastal power if available.
This rule applies to passenger vessels below the gross tonnage of 10,000 tons from January 1, 2026 and below the gross tonnage of 10,000 tons or more on January 1, 2032 (this change was set to be effective on all vessels in 2026, but was delayed on larger vessels).
How do zero emission requirements help the environment?
Helen Muli, a part-time senior researcher at the Faculty of Energy Process Engineering at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, said that most vessels in particular are “increasingly affecting these beautiful fjords.”
CO2 emissions contribute to global warming, first and foremost. Other regulations in the fjords also reduce air pollution from sulfur, but other regulations that are pollutants that appear near the ground, such as ozone formed as nitrogen oxide emissions, can cause respiratory problems in humans, impact crops and other plants.
“Inside these fjords there are very steep mountains where very steep mountains usually jump into the fjord. “So, the quality of the air is also polluted, as emissions from the ship tend to be trapped inside the fjord.”
According to Muri, noise from the ship can also interfere with wildlife, and vessels can interfere with wildlife, with large vessels in particular being criticized for “visual pollution.”
“It’s the same kind of discussion about wind turbines sometimes,” she said. “For example, it’s not so lovely with its gentle and beautiful nature.”
Some cruise operators may comply more easily than others. For example, the voyages of Hurtigruten and Havila already have battery hybrid ships. However, the industry is actively investigating alternative fuels, but they are still not widely available.
Small passenger vessels that cannot meet the requirements in time may be subject to temporary exemptions from Norwegian Maritime Authorities, and most vessels have years to adapt their technology. “Nevertheless, many cruise companies report that they anticipate important challenges when complying with regulations once they are in effect,” the policy document reads.
“The transition is intended to be phased and we recognize that technology for large vessels is still under development,” Cruise Line International, the industry-leading trade organisation, told USA Today.
According to the CLIA, almost any cruise ship operating in Norway can use renewable low-carbon fuel. However, these are not yet accessible at the scale you need. “If the right investment is invested properly, rapid decarbonization of cruises and maritime transport is possible,” the organization said in an email. “Cruise Line is pursuing net-zero emissions by 2050, and such initiatives demonstrate the industry’s commitment to becoming an active partner in the development of sustainable tourism.”
Helga Maria Srensand, senior communications advisor to Norwegian Maritime Authority, said there is no data on the number of vessels operating in Norway each year.
Norway cruise tips
From mainstream cruise lines that sail through Norway and carry thousands of guests, including celebrities and princess cruises, to smaller expedition operators such as National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions and HX.
Cruises departing from Norway usually leave Oslo or Bergen. Many itineraries that visit the Scandinavian country also sail from Southampton, England.
Cruises are normally open between May and September, but some ships still sail along coastal routes at other times, which is a particularly good way to see the country. “It’s just another worldly nature,” Wincuff said. “There are really cool opportunities for many great off-pass pass experiences. In contrast to the land itinerary, there are so many really, really small towns and villages that you can reach when you’re on a cruise.”
She warned that passengers could see itinerary changes due to the new regulations, but that Cruiseline’s customer service department should be able to address questions about it. “And if they’re not ready to answer those questions, that’s kind of an answer of its own right,” Wincafe added.
Muri admitted that achieving zero emissions on cruise ships remains a “work in progress.”
“These types of laws and regulations are really a step in the right direction and I really hope that cruise operators will make an effort to do something about emissions,” she said.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel journalist for Nashville-based USA Today. You can contact him at ndiller@usatoday.com.
