Any bio-fouling issues in the Norway waters?

[saz25]

Does anyone know if there were any issues related to how clean cruise ships hulls are before sailing into sensitive areas around Norway?

 

Recently at least 7 different cruise ships were denied entry into New Zealand waters due to bio-fouling, which is marine life growing on hills.

 

Norway also has sensitive marine areas. We sail there this summer. I wonder if any such issues came up last season like summer 2022.

thanks

[Desdichado62]

Some restrictions yes:

https://thenorwayguide.com/there-could-be-a-stop-to-popular-fjord-cruises-in-2026/

https://ferryshippingnews.com/norways-bold-environmental-decisions-catalyst-for-change/

 

I assume Norwegian posters can provide some more details.

 

[hallasm]

I have no knowledge of legislation or problems with biofouling in Norwegian waters.  However, as stated, the Norwegian Parliament has adopted a resolution to stop emissions from cruise ships and ferries in the Norwegian World Heritage fjords as soon as technically possible and by 2026 at the latest.

However, there is a proposal to allow the use of biogas under certain circumstances for a transitional period of 5 years, so that new cruise ships powered by biogas can still sail the fjords until 2030.
 
The Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) has submitted a proposal for a regulation on vessel emissions in World Heritage fjords by 1 January 2026 – and ships of 10,000 GT and upwards will be permitted to use biogas for a five-year period as part of a transitional arrangement.

[kaisatsu]

Emissions are the hot topic for cruise ships.

 

When it comes to biodiversity, the bigger threat is the invasive king crabs that migrated from Russia.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/20/crab-22-how-norways-fisheries-got-rich-but-on-an-invasive-species