Ponant has announced the order of the first electric hybrid cruise icebreaker powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
The vessel is scheduled for delivery for 2021 by Fincantieri’s Norwegian subsidiary, Vard.
Ponant decided to appoint Vard following a public tender by Barry Rogliano Salles.
The ship design was created by Aker Arctic and Stirling Design International.
Ponant will use the 135-stateroom ship to take passengers to polar destinations such as the true geographic North Pole, the Weddell Sea, the Ross Sea and Peter I Island.
Vard is building Ponant’s next two ships, La Laperouse and Le Champlain due next year.
Both have a capacity for 180 passengers.
Another two Ponant ships are scheduled in 2019.