Hurtigruten Svalbard orders high-speed sightseeing boat from Swedish builder

Norwegian operator Hurtigruten has placed an order for a new sightseeing boat to be built by Marell Boats of Sweden.

The vessel will be a variant of Marell’s highly successful 15-metre interceptor, which has proven capable of reaching speeds of up to 70 knots.

The sightseeing boat will be operated under the Hurtigruten Svalbard brand and will be used to bring 12 passengers on excursions around the Svalbard Archipelago at the start of the 2022 tourist season in the spring following a period of operational tests in the autumn of 2021.

The vessel’s hull will feature low resistance for minimal environmental impact and for greater stability even when laden with passengers and extra cargo. An aft deck will provide a platform for various functions including launching smaller boats.

A reinforced bow will enable the vessel to handle tough conditions without risk of fatigue problems.

The crew of two will be seated in Ullman suspension seats while the 12 passengers will be seated safely and comfortably in double chairs with seat belts.

Like all Marell-built craft, the Hurtigruten Svalbard boat will have a deck designed to carry sandwich composite deck panels bonded to the beam structure to reduce weight and vibration. The panels will act as insulation as well as help reduce the deformation of the hull at different temperatures by absorbing the elongation of the aluminium sheets.

The boat will be built to meet Lloyd’s Register classification requirements and “Forskrift om drift av fartoy som förer 12 eller färre passasjere” (regulations on the operation of vessels carrying 12 or fewer passengers; FOR-2020-01-14-63) with specific requirements for Svalbard including CE class B- Offshore.