On 19 May 2016 The Fjords DA, operator of seven tourist ships in the Western Norwegian fjords, revealed the name of the latest addition to its fleet.
To be christened Vision of The Fjords, the 40m long hybrid craft has the latest in both green technology and passenger experience, delivering a solution that safeguards the pristine environment it gives access to.
Vision of The Fjords, to be launched in June, is unique. Built from carbon fibre, with a 400-passenger capacity, the vessel has been designed with lines that resemble a twisting mountain path, complementing the scenery of the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Nærøyfjord it will voyage along.
Passengers can climb the vessel as they watch the 1800m mountains rise from the water, or enjoy the outside from inside thanks to sweeping panoramic lounges and windows.
Its dual fuel solution allows it to run diesel engines up to the entrance of the protected Nærøyfjord, where it then switches to silent running, emission free electric power. In addition, the vessel features a special hull designed to minimise wake and thus reduce impact erosion on the area’s vulnerable shoreline.
With these factors in mind, The Fjords CEO Rolf Sandvik explains, Vision of The Fjords was the perfect name: “Vision of The Fjords supersedes everything else on these iconic Norwegian waterways,” he says.
“The name obviously relates to the unique passenger experience, as they become ‘at one’ with the nature that surrounds them, but it also encapsulates our own vision for the future of tourism here. We are accessing and showcasing some of the world’s most beautiful, yet vulnerable, natural areas. It’s our objective to do this in a responsible, sustainable and respectful manner.”
