Hurtigruten Expeditions has named two explorers as the godmothers of new battery-powered vessel Fridtjof Nansen.
The line said Canadian Sunniva Sørby and Norwegian Hilde Fålun Strøm had “dedicated their lives to inspire action and engage a global dialogue on climate change”.
Strøm and Sørby became the first women to spend the winter in the Norwegian archipelago Svalbard, where Fridtjof Nansen is going to be officially named next week.
They lived for 19 months at the remote trapper’s cabin of Bamsebu – 140km from the nearest settlement.
The pair said: “Over decades of polar exploration, we have witnessed the significant changes and challenges our planet faces.
“Sponsoring Fridtjof Nansen gives us a strengthened platform from where we can increase global awareness and dialogue around climate change and inspire active engagement and create more ambassadors for our natural world.”
Hurtigruten Group chief executive Daniel Skjeldam called the duo “true pioneers” and “inspiring”.
“They are true role models, and amazing ambassadors for our shared values,” he added.
Fridtjof Nansen sailed a series of ex-UK preview cruises last year before the pandemic brought cruise operations around the world to a halt.
Pictured (left to right): Sunniva Sørby and Hilde Fålun Strøm