Hurtigruten Group has been forced to cancel its remaining Antarctic expeditions for the rest of the season this year and in the first quarter of 2021.

The Norwegian firm said it made the decision because the global Covid-19 pandemic has created an unpredictable operating environment.

"The Covid-19 pandemic is still affecting large parts of the world and travel restrictions and quarantine requirements are wide spread and changing rapidly," the cruiseship and ferry operator said in a filing to the Oslo Stock Exchange on Thursday.