Color Fantasy: The Oslo-Kiel Ferry’s Pivotal Role in Environmental Surveillance

The Oslo–Kiel cruise ferry is popular among Norwegians as a short getaway and for Germans as an intriguing route to Norway. However, there is more to the vessel than meets the eye.

While passengers aboard the Color Fantasy cruise ferry enjoy the piano bar, buffet restaurant, and duty-free shops, a vital scientific mission is underway below deck. This vessel, which regularly sails between Oslo and Kiel, is not just any cruise ferry; with a capacity of ~2,750 passengers, it is the second-largest cruise ferry in the world.

Beyond its passenger services, Color Fantasy plays a crucial role in monitoring the health of the Oslofjord, the major waterway connecting Norway’s capital to the world.

Earlier this summer, an alarming algae bloom turned the usually clear waters of Oslofjord a murky brown. Such issues with algae are not new to the waters near Oslo. Researchers at the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) were particularly concerned about this significant spread of harmful algae.

Thanks to the monitoring efforts aboard the Color Fantasy, there is good news: the bloom has subsided, and the fjord’s waters are clearing up.

Color Fantasy is equipped with an array of sensors and gauges in its engine room that measure oxygen, salinity, color, temperature, and turbidity every minute. This data is transmitted in real-time to NIVA researchers. Senior engineer Louise Valestrand from NIVA described this setup as her “slow TV,” allowing her to monitor the fjord’s conditions closely.

This continuous data stream alerted scientists to the harmful algae bloom earlier this summer. The bloom, which initially raised concerns, is now over. Data from the ship’s sensors showed a significant decrease in phytoplankton and algae levels.

When harmful algae die, they sink to the seabed and decompose, consuming oxygen and threatening marine life. Valestrand explained that in oxygen-poor fjords, this can further reduce oxygen levels, resulting in lifeless waters. The real-time data from Color Fantasy is invaluable in tracking and responding to these changes.