I have found this article here from oct. 21:
Verftet har sikra seg to av tre kontraktar på grøn oppgradering av hurtigruteskip
maritimt.com
I am really a friend of each upgrade, (big) renovation, modernisation, lengthening etc. - and i think that many ferry-companies often do this never or too late or too small / less - but in this case here i am wondering because these Hurtigruten-ships are now really old... - Richard With is 29 years old now - if the renovation is completed she has soon her 30. birthday. And this is a very expensive big renovation with new engines, new bow etc. - maybe the renovation-costs are similar to the actually time-worth and a very big part of what a newbuilding would cost. Also not to forget: Not to use a ship for 7 month now costs also a lot of money. I remember the big lengthening of TTs Peter Pan in fast 2 weeks some years ago and for each extra-day delay the yard must pay a lot of money to TT. Because of this trouble between TT and the yard the Nils Holgersson lengthening was not anymore actually.
So i think each big renovation / modernisation / lengthening is full OK when a ship/ferry is between 12 and 20 years old - but with an age of more than ca. 20 years only smaller renovations like new furnitures, carpets, mattresses f.ex. makes sense. And especially with an age of ca. 30 years i think it is to late for this extremly big modernisation. So i think it would be better now to use these 90ies ships for some additional years now and then order newbuildings in 5, 6, 7, 8 years with then the most modern technology and the best passenger-comfort (f.ex. much more cabins with balcony/panoramic window, XXL-Whirlpools etc.).
Furthermore i think that "green" is overrated generally. Nobody prefer old "dirty" ships/ferries - but the most people are not "friends" of the swedish Greta also. They book Hurtigruten for to see the Norwegian fjords, have nice holiday etc. - and the most people look for cheapest prices - not for the greenest ship. And everybody would understand it, that a ship/ferry now will be used some years longer because the ships are still OK and then "greenest" newbuildings will be ordered. And f.ex. if i book now this year a trip with the new "green" Viking Glory, Nils Holgersson or maybe Honfleur or other Newbuildings i do this NOT because of LNG or other "green" features. Much more important for all "normal" people which are not voting for a green party is the fresh new clean interior, cheap prices, good food, new beds etc. - similar like a brandnew hotel is better than an old one.
Or with other words: Also in case that Hurtigruten would have the greenest ships of the world - if i would spend the money for the norwegian coast-cruise i would book the cheapest and newest ship (now maybe Havila booked via ALDI-Reisen ?) and in some years if Hurtigruten would then have newbuildings i would book Hurtigruten (if i find a cheap offer). But the greenest engine in an old ship is for me not a reason to book especially this ship. And i am sure that many people are thinking similar as me. A big beer onboard Hurtigruten costs 8 Euro ? This is 8-time so much as in Spain 300m from my apartment where a british pint (=0,57 liter) costs 1 Euro only.
So it would be better save the millions for extremly big renovation now, offer lower prices onboard = more guests also now with older ships.