Alfred Bjørlo (V), representative of the Storting – It looks like a practically feasible proposal that fulfills the intention of driving forward zero-emission solutions and cuts emissions, while at the same time securing, to a greater extent than the original proposal, the very large local value creation linked to cruises in and around the world heritage fjords. So I and Venstre would like to praise the Norwegian Maritime Directorate for a good job. The mission has been carried out with cleverness and a healthy seaman’s sweat. Olve Grotle (H), representative of the Storting – Finally, there seems to be an acceptable solution to something that has hung like a dark cloud over Flåm for a long time. The recommended solution manages to stick to the goal of zero emissions, and at the same time achieve a practical and workable arrangement that will not stifle all cruise activity. It must then be said that the government has not followed through on the Storting’s decisions to make arrangements for onshore power, and that there is still work to be done here. In the years to come, we will experience that battery technology is getting better and better, and must reward those who manage to achieve actual zero emissions. Bjørn Lødemel, day-to-day manager of Sogn og Fjordane Business Council – It is very gratifying that the Norwegian Maritime Directorate has taken note of the good and constructive consultation submissions that have come in and that they now have a recommendation that can make it possible both to continue with cruise traffic and not least add dishes for landstraum in Flåm. Norways Best and Aurland Hamnevesen KF together with Aurland municipality have done a very impressive job with their consultation responses and met the challenges faced in the case in an offensive and good way. Sogn og Fjordane Business Council expects the Ministry of Climate and the Environment to follow up on the Norwegian Maritime Directorate’s clear recommendation. We also ask that there be a quick confirmation and a final decision so that the planning of the cruise traffic in the coming years can proceed in full. Arve Tokvam, chairman of Aurland Næringsråd – This gives reason for optimism. If the proposal is adopted, it means that Aurland Hamnevesen can build a land tram system in Flåm. It also means that there is a basis for realizing the innovative energy hub solution that has been developed for Flåm, in which local actors have actively participated. A realization of that solution could mean a large reduction in greenhouse gas emissions both at sea and on land. So this is a solution that gives the tourism environment in Flåm the opportunity to be in the driver’s seat of sustainable destination development, while at the same time taking care of local value creation. There are still a number of things that have not been clarified with the new regulations, including for Bergensbåten, which is important for Flåm. This will now go through political manipulation before it is finally adopted. We must have confidence that the politicians listen to the clear advice from the Norwegian Maritime Directorate. Ove Trellevik (H), representative of the Storting – This testifies that the Norwegian Coastal Administration has listened to the hearing recordings, but this is in no way satisfactory in relation to the Storting’s decision. The Storting has been clear that the world heritage fjords must be secured as a port of call for cruise ships also after 2026, among other things by the state ensuring the establishment of land currents in Flåm. Here, the government is far from fulfilling the Storting’s decision. The Norwegian Maritime Directorate points to biogas as a solution until 2035, but Menon has shown in his assessment that biogas only moves cruise traffic out of the world heritage fjords and to other Norwegian fjords without corresponding requirements. And that this has negative consequences for value creation, employment and housing related to the destinations of Flåm and Geiranger. In Aurland, 70 percent of the business world is linked to tourism, and therefore it is necessary that the proposed measures secure the world heritage fjords as a port of call for cruise ships also after 2026. The Storting has pointed out that land current is one such measure that can help secure ports of call, and in the budget proposal criticizes the Supreme Government for a lack of follow-up on the Storting’s decisions in this area. Sivert Bakk, day-to-day manager of Flåm Utvikling – We are pleased that the Norwegian Maritime Directorate has taken our consultation results into account in their professional recommendation, and that they are also basing their submission on the EU’s regulations on greenhouse gas emissions. We are experiencing business and Aurland Municipality agreeing that a set of regulations that embraces more than just the world heritage fjords would have a greater overall climate effect. At the same time, this will pave the way for a greater investment in environmental measures locally with a green energy hub both on water and on land with land current for cruises as the triggering factor. Einar Arve Nordang (H), mayor of Stranda – This is very positive. There are very few ships that run solely on biogas, as far as I know there are only 17 and none of them are in Europe. If this proposal stands, it will open the way for far more ships to visit the region. Tor Mikkel Tokvam, port manager in Aurland – If this recommendation is adopted, the consequence is that Flåm will handle sufficient cruise traffic so that shore current for cruises can be realised, and that we can start work on realizing the project needed to become an energy hub for tourism in the future.
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The state recommends several types of fuel to ensure cruise traffic in Norwegian world heritage fjords – news Vestland
