Norway has confirmed that from January 1, 2026, passenger ships up to 10,000 GT operating in the country’s UNESCO World Heritage fjords must meet zero‑emission requirements, with larger vessels to follow by 2032. The rules effectively tie access to iconic fjords to strict environmental performance, reinforcing Norway’s broader maritime decarbonisation strategy.
From January 1, 2026, Norway is implementing zero‑emission requirements for passenger ships up to 10,000 gross tonnes operating in five UNESCO World Heritage fjords that form part of the West Norwegian Fjord Landscape: Nærøyfjord, Aurlandsfjord, Geirangerfjord, Sunnylvsfjord and Tafjord. The regulations are being phased in, with limited scope for biogas as an alternative fuel only under strict sustainability conditions, and larger passenger ships will be subject to the same zero‑emission obligation from 2032. Maritime and national news outlets report that these rules build on earlier restrictions on heavy fuel oil and air pollutants such as NOx and SOx in sensitive Norwegian fjords.
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