Last Updated on July 24, 2024 by PALFINGER
When it came to expeditions, Fridtjof Wedel-Jarlsberg Nansen (October 1861 – May 1930) didn’t deal in half-measures. Neither did he in 1893, when he set off for an unforgettable adventure. Together with his companions, he traveled towards the north pole on his ship Fram. After three years, he may not have reached the earth’s northernmost point, but he did reach a record northern latitude. Thereby, Nansen achieved international fame. And his name shall never be forgotten …
Nearly 130 years later, Hurtigruten’s new expedition ship, MS Fridtjof Nansen, has launched into operation. PALFINGER MARINE delivered an extensive package of lifesaving appliances to the ship. The scope of delivery encompasses two lifeboats, two tender boats, two fast rescue boats and six accompanying davits. All 500 of Nansen’s passengers per trip can now travel to the world’s most stunning places.
The scope of delivery for MS Fridtjof Nansen includes, amongst others, two PALFINGER fast rescue boats.
State-of-the-art technology with a large portion of ecological awareness
Hurtigruten may be shaped by tradition but has never lagged in technological progress. On the contrary: The cruise line has evolved with the rapidly increasing requirements of maritime traffic. Like her famous namesake Fridtjof Nansen, the new ferry is a pioneer in modern cruising, using environmentally friendly state-of-the-art ship technology. By utilizing electric propulsion, the cruise ship cuts fuel consumption and CO2-emissions by 20 percent. Periods of silent cruising are also made possible by the vessel’s hybrid technology.
Polar Code compliant lifesaving appliances
It is not unusual to be confronted by cold temperatures and harsh sea conditions at destinations like Norway, Antarctica, Greenland and Iceland. For this reason, Nansen was built in compliance with the Polar Code.
MS Fridtjof Nansen was our second Polar Code cruise project. It came with an invaluable learning experience that we will definitely draw on for future projects.
Anne Berit Nerhus, Project Manager at PALFINGER MARINE
Adjusting the equipment to Polar Code standards, Project Manager Anne Berit had to focus on some crucial details: “In order to stand up to cold temperatures, our davits as well as boats were delivered with special heating. Furthermore, we provided protection covers for the lifeboat release hooks, winches as well as rescue boats to defy these extraordinary conditions. Finally, inside the life- and tender boats, we installed porta potti, or, in other words, toilets.”
Protection covers, porta potti and extra heating were necessary to adapt Nansen’s new life- and tender boats to Polar Code standards.
These extras came hand in hand with quite a few challenges. Nonetheless, PALFINGER MARINE’s team of experts mastered those skillfully: “Due to all the extra heating, we needed big transformers. We had to find a way to deal with the heat inside the control cabinets. Eventually, we counteracted this issue with fans inside the starter panels”, Anne Berit explains.
“The biggest challenge was to find space for the heater and porta potti without having to remove seats. But in the end, we found a proper solution”, she says contently. “Still, since our products are very individual, we are aware that for every new lifeboat type, we will need to start from scratch when it comes to finding space for the heater and the exhaust outlet and air inlet”, Anne Berit asserts, “however, as challenging as our job might be, nothing can take the exhilarating feeling away when you’ve found the optimal solution”.
Hurtigruten and PALFINGER MARINE: a partnership with history
Anne Berit had accompanied the latest Hurtigruten project since 2015. Another one of her latest projects was MS Roald Amundsen, Nansen’s sister ship. PALFINGER MARINE’s partnership with Hurtigruten, though, goes back much further.
Hurtigruten and PALFINGER MARINE share a long history together. Our partnership goes back to the early nineties, when we first delivered lifesaving packages to the cruise line. Ever since then, we’ve supplied each one of Hurtigruten’s vessels with equipment.
Anne Berit Nerhus, Project Manager at PALFINGER MARINE
“Working with Hurtigruten is more than a good reference for us. It is an honor to be part of a sustainable project initiated by a cruise line with such a remarkable historical background”, Anne Berit adds.
From mail boat to expedition fleet
It all started in 1893, when Captain Richard With accepted the challenge to establish a regular sea route for mail boats along the Norwegian coast line. The initial route led from Trondheim to Hammerfest. Later it was expanded, enabling seafarers to go from Bergen to Kirkenes in only seven days. Hence, With named this connection ‘hurtigruten’ (translated from Norwegian to English: ‘the fast route’), setting the foundations for the cruise line’s popular explorer operations. Today, Hurtigruten’s expedition fleet sails to the world’s most exquisite places and least visited shores.
Copyright featured image: © MotionAir/Hurtigruten