Swan Hellenic has agreed terms on a third new expedition cruise ship.
The latest Vega class vessel will be larger than its sister ships, carrying 192 passengers against 152.
The ice-class Vega 3 will feature a diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system and is set for delivery by the end of 2022.
The newbuild will be able to reach the most remote and inaccessible corners of the world and do so in “almost total silence” under battery power.
The details emerged as the line entered into a contractual agreement with Helsinki Shipyard in Finland for the order. The value was not dislcosed.
As previously announced, the first in the trio of ships will be named Minerva in honour of the company’s first purpose-built vessel.
The ships are due for delivery in November 2021, April 2022 and the end of 2022.
Swan Hellenic said it was “demonstrating solid confidence both in the strength and resilience of the high-end cruise market and its own unique vision of cultural expedition cruising”.
Chief executive Andrea Zito said: “We see the increase in demand for experiences that are truly out of the ordinary and are confident in the bounce back of our industry.”
Shipyard chief executive Carl-Gustaf Rotkirch added: “The new order is significant as it shows our customers’ confidence in our operations and is a strong signal of the long-term nature of our operations.”
