• Sustainability

First Zero-Emissions, Autonomous Cargo Ship Sets Sail

• International Maritime Organization
• Norway
• shipping

By Natasha Lasky, ODP Staff Writer This week, Norwegian chemical company Yara International announced that it had designed the world’s first zero-emissions, autonomous cargo ship. The ship— the Yara Birkeland— will make its maiden crewless voyage between two Norwegian towns by the end of 2021. Why This Matters: According to the International Maritime Organization, the […]

• Sustainability

Can Norway Build the First Floating Tunnel In the World?

• fjord
• Infrastructure
• Norway
• tunnel

Earlier this year, the government of Norway decided to undertake the largest infrastructure project in the world, a “highway” to connect the entire country from top to bottom — crossing under, over and through its more than 1,000 fjords.  The most futuristic part of the $40 billion dollar undertaking is the development of submerged floating tunnels that sit around 30 meters (100 feet) under the surface of the water.

Why This Matters:  This is what governments should do — massive infrastructure projects that will boost the economy and the way of life for its people — that are too big for private corporations or regional governments to undertake.

• Animals

One suspicious thing: Beluga in Norway thought to be a Russian spy

• beluga whale
• Norway
• Russia
• spy
• whale

Last week Norwegian fisherman spotted a beluga whale exhibiting atypical behavior and wearing a harness with the inscription “Equipment of St. Petersburg.” As the Washington Post explained, “Researchers say that the harness could have carried weapons or cameras, triggering new speculations about a sea mammal special operations program that the Russian navy is believed to […]

• Ocean

Norway to End Arctic Oil and Gas Drilling

• Arctic Ocean
• climate change
• drilling
• Norway
• oil and gas
• renewables

In a decision that caught oil and gas industry executives by surprise, the largest governing party in Norway announced it is withdrawing its support for fossil fuel exploration in the Arctic ocean near the sensitive Lofoten Islands, thereby effectively putting them off limits for development. According to Bloomberg, State-controlled Equinor ASA, the biggest Norwegian oil producer, have said that gaining access to Lofoten is key if the country wants to maintain fuel production — experts had estimated that there are 1 billion to 3 billion barrels of oil in the waters off the Lofoten archipelago.  

• Ocean

Viking Sky Cruise Ship Runs Into Stormy Seas Off Coast of Norway

• climate change
• cruise ship
• Norway
• ocean
• sea level rise
• severe storm
• storm surge
• Viking Cruises

Over the weekend, a commercial cruise liner called the Viking Sky with nearly 14,000 passengers and crew on board had to be evacuated when stormy weather and rough seas off the coast of Norway caused the ship to rock dangerously and it nearly ran aground.  The ship was struggling Saturday morning because its engines failed and it lost power and then it began to list and take on water under a pounding from 43 mph winds and 26-foot swells. Fortunately, the ship was traveling close to shore, making its way around the Norwegian coast.