expedition cruising A different class
Navigating the icy waters of the Arctic and Antarctic is no easy task, so what goes in to building the latest polar expedition ships? Jane Archer reports
You wait 10 years for a new polar expedition ship and then four launch within six months of each other. Scenic Eclipse, Hurtigruten’s Roald Amundsen, Aurora Expeditions’ Greg Mortimer and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ Hanseatic Inspiration all came out last year and are built to transport modern-day explorers to the North and South Poles in comfort. But what is a polar expedition vessel, how does it differ from a traditional cruise ship, and what should passengers expect?
SAME BUT DIFFERENT Whether building a traditional cruise ship or a polar expedition vessel, the dynamics are the same. Marine architects design a hull and interior based on the size of the ship and the features the cruise line wants to offer – be that swimming pools, rock-climbing walls or rollercoasters – and shipyards add the technical know-how to bring the designs to life. The main difference with expedition ships destined for the
polar regions is they need ice-strengthened hulls and must also be able to sail for long periods as they are going to such remote locations. All four ships launched last year are designated Polar Class
6 under International Association of Classification Societies’ rules, which means they can cruise in thinner summer and autumn ice. They have thicker hulls than traditional cruise ships, with more beams and bulkheads (collectively known as scantlings) to provide extra strength and safety.
travelweekly.co.uk/cruise Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ chief executive officer Karl Pojer
says: “Expedition has its own rules. Hanseatic Inspiration can operate for 36 days without refuelling.” Aurora has added a design twist with Greg Mortimer by
going for a different style of bow. Unlike a conventional bulbous bow, its X-Bow slopes downward and is said to offer a faster and smoother ride, which is especially welcome on the notorious Drake Passage. Aurora managing director Robert Halfpenny says Norwegian company Ulstein was responsible for the technical side of Greg Mortimer, while the company’s expedition team was involved in designing the onboard facilities. “Greg Mortimer is designed by expeditioners for expeditioners,” he adds. Safety and comfort is vital, of course, but it’s the public
areas that clients will see. On the new expedition ships, that means more luxury than in the past, with larger cabins and a choice of restaurants and bars. In place of waterslides and kids’ clubs, they can expect practical features such as mud rooms for boots, places to dry wet clothes and easy access to the Zodiacs used for going ashore. Science labs are a recent addition on several ships.
GOING GREEN Cruise lines building expedition ships have to make sure they are doing their utmost to protect the fragile environments they will be cruising in.
February 2020 47
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