– The feedback from the reiar team is ready. As long as there is an unresolved situation, they can not speculate about putting ships here, says Tor Mikkel Tokvam, harbor master in Aurland harbor service. In Geiranger, the situation is the same. No one will come in 2026. Last year, the Storting said no to postponing the zero-emission requirement in the World Heritage fjords from 2026 to 2030. At that time, the harbor master signaled that the decision would mean that no ships could come to Flåm from 2026. In 2019, the year before the pandemic, there were 158 cruise call in Flåm. In November, the port opened for orders for calls in four years. So far no one was able to send in the perfect solution. – This means that as of now the others will end up from and including 2026. This is how the situation will be until one gets a clarification. Port manager in Flåm, Tor Mikkel Tokvam, will be visited by Storting politicians on Friday. Photo: Ole Andre Rekkedal / news In Geiranger, the order has been open for a long time. – There are no large zero-emission ships in the cruise ship fleet until 2030 at the earliest. They do not have technology that satisfies the decision on zero-emission, says Rita Berstad Maraak, port manager at Stranda Port Authority. A meeting with SV and the Conservatives’ Directorate of Maritime Affairs is, on behalf of the Ministry of Climate and the Environment, in progress with a study that looks at the administrative and financial consequences of the requirement. The Directorate will also look at measures that can ensure that the World Heritage fjords can receive cruise calls. This work will be completed by the end of 2022. On Friday, Aurland Port Authority, Aurland Municipality and local tourism will meet parliamentary representatives from SV and Høgre. Lars Haltbrekken (SV) and Liv Kari Eskeland (H) have both voted for the 2026 requirement. – The environmental requirements are fixed, the technology exists, and those who are early in the adjustment of the green shift will benefit from it, says Haltbrekken. Two cruise ships in the Geirangerfjord in 2021. In 2026, no one will coma. Photo: Tore Ellingseter – Will have major consequences for tourism An absolute zero-emission decision from 2026 will have extensive consequences for local tourism, says Tor Mikkel Tokvam. He points out that calculations show that cruise ships that have normally come to Flåm have invested between NOK 200-250 million. – If we lose it, which is the reality if one does not find a pragmatic solution here, we can not see a complete desire for it. Tokvam points out that the introduction of shore power will reduce emissions considerably. In addition, smaller ships could have zero emissions, he points out. – If you otherwise get the best ships in, you can get a situation where you get rid of most of the emissions at the same time as we have a market to live off in Flåm, he says. Eskeland says she understands that the business community is uneasy. – We understand the business community in Flåm’s concern for the challenges they face, but the Storting and the government must take responsibility for ensuring that the bustling life we experience in the center of Flåm also has a future. – Will be challenging Also in Geiranger they are uneasy. Harbor Master Maraak describes the situation as unmanageable. She says they have accepted that the Geirangerfjord will be closed until the technology is in place, and that they must find other solutions. – Norway has decided that these fjords will be the world’s first, most beautiful and best emission-free destination, but until the technology is in place and the ships can sail into our fjords again, it will be challenging. She aims for income for the business community in the local communities. Port Manager Rita Berstad Maraak is worried about income for the local communities. Photo: Baard Ole Grøtta / Baard Ole Grøtta – How the state will solve this is unclear to us. While the ports of Flåm and Geiranger are in the World Heritage area, the quay in Hellesylt is outside. But in order for the ships to get to the cruise quay, they must sail through a “side fjord” that lies in the world heritage area. – We hope TIER II ships will sail through and into Hellesylt. That would solve some of the situation. Not a rematch Eskeland does not experience the invitation to Flåm as an attempt at a rematch on the zero-emission requirement. – The decision stands. Now we have to strive to find the good solutions that also serve local communities such as Flåm.
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No ship will come to Flåm in 2026 – news Vestland
