This weekend Fjord1 had a naming ceremony for its three new LNG ferries in Gdansk, Poland. The ferries are scheduled to operate on the Norwegian Romsdalsfjord in 2010, and are part of a larger LNG-ferry order at Remontowa shipyard.

Fjord1's environmental focus has put the Norwegian company at the very forefront on the use of natural gas in ferries and the company expects to operate altogether 11 LNG ferries along the Norwegian coastline in 2011.

Following the success of the world's first ferry to run on natural gas with Glutra in 2000, Fjord1 is still the only company using natural gas ferries for vehicle and public transportation with five more large vessels operating the busy links along the busy coastal roads of Norway.

LNG is an attractive alternative fuel not only because it is relatively clean, but also because Norway has an ample supply.

Liquid Natural Gass (LNG) reduces air pollution
Fjord1 expects a solid reduction of air pollution with the new vessels. The ferries will reduce NOx emissions with 90% compared to conventional diesel operated ferries.
- If we compare all our gas ferries with conventional diesel ferries, the NOx-emissions are reduced with 90 percent. That equals more than the total emissions of the amount of cars in Oslo, says Managing Director in Fjord1 MRF, Anker Grovdal.

Smoke and soot will be as good as gone. - Because natural gas is clean fuel, as much as all emissions of particles and sulfur will be removed, says Grovdal. He also points out that the CO2-reduction will be about 20 percent compared with diesel ferries.

The first ferry to be ready is Moldefjord (128 PCU) which will be operating from January 1st 2010. For local travelers, the ferries will provide an altogether better solution with 20 percent more capacity than today's solution.

More than 70 guests from Norway attended today's naming ceremony, together with Norwegian Ambassador to Poland - Mr. Enok Nygaard and Honorary Consul of Norway in Gdynia - Mr. Michał Rzeszewicz, as well as representatives from Remontowa shipyard under the leadership of Mr. Jaroslaw Flont. Guests of honor of the event were: Pomeranian Voivode - Mr. Roman Zaborowski and Vice-President of Gdańsk - Mr. Andrzej Bojanowski.

The godmothers were:

• Rigmor Andersen Eide, Member of Parliament and Board Member in Fjord1 MRF, godmother of Moldefjord


• Trine Otterlei, Chief Mate and Trustee at Norwegian Maritime Officers' Association, godmother of Romsdalsfjord


• Marit Øverås, Accounting Secretary at Fjord1 MRF, godmother of Fannefjord

More emphasis on environmentally friendly solutions
Fjord1 points out the importance of a strong focus on environmental solutions in government tenders.
- The fact that Norwegian authorities have had focus on both LNG and other environmentally friendly fuel solutions has been instrumental in putting Norway at the very forefront of this development, says CEO in Fjord1, Leif Overland.

Overland thinks environmentally friendly solutions, business and customer benefits go hand in hand.
- If we are to become a more environmentally friendly society, it has to be become profitable to use clean technology solutions.

Contacts:
Chief Communication Officer Ingrid Faroyvik, mobile 415 36 419
CEO Leif Overland, mobile 415 36 460
Managing Director, Anker Grovdal, mobile 906 97 460

About Fjord1
Fjord1 is one of Norway's largest public transportation corporations, with core activities on ferry-, speed passenger boat- and bus-transportation, as well as transportation of goods across the country. Altogether the Fjord1 companies operate more than 60 ferries and passenger boats, more than 500 buses and goods transport trucks - and had in 2008 about 28 million passengers and 8,7 million vehicles. The Fjord1 corporation has about 2300 employees and had a turnover of about 2,8 billion Norwegian kroner in 2008. The company is headquartered in Flora.

For more information, please visit our website at www.fjord1.no.

Fjord1

Fjord1

About Fjord1 Fjord1 is one of Norway’s largest public transportation corporations, with core activities on ferry-, speed passenger boat- and bus-transportation, as well as transportation of goods across the country. Altogether the Fjord1 companies operate more than 60 ferries and passenger boats, more than 500 buses and goods transport trucks - and had in 2008 about 28 million passengers and 8,7 million vehicles. The Fjord1 corporation has about 2300 employees and had a turnover of about 2,8 billion Norwegian kroner in 2008. The company is headquartered in Flora. For more information, please visit our website at www.fjord1.no.

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