Hurtigruten signs on for new ship

Hurtigruten signs on for new ship

Hurtigruten and Discover the World have announced that Hurtigruten has invested in a new expedition ship, the first one in almost ten years.

The new ship’s maneuverability and size will bring Hurtigruten’s guests even closer to natural experiences, with the investment ensuring Hurtigruten remains a leader in sustainable exploration, according to ceo Daniel Skjeldam.

The new ship was built in Portugal in 2009 and has been given the temporary name MS Norway Explorer, holding capacity for 320 guests with 180 berths.

The new ship replace MS Midnatsol along the Norwegian coast, when she sails to Antarctica for the winter season of 2016/2017.

Already this week, the ship made its first voyage as member of the Hurtigruten fleet, from Portugal to Scandinavian waters, where she will be docked to undergo a total reconstruction in order to meet Hurtigruten standards, before she is included in Hurtigruten operations next year, specifically for polar water sailing.

According to Skjeldam, the guest area will consist of comfortable cabins and common areas, with a modern and environmentally friendly focus, as well as further adjustments in the pipeline to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

The Hurtigruten fleet now consists of a total of 13 vessels.

“This investment gives us increased flexibility and opens great opportunities to enrich our guests’ unique polar experiences,” Skjeldam added.

“The vessel complements our fleet of expedition ships and also opens a window of opportunity to expand our service and offers at destinations such as Greenland, Svalbard and Antarctica.”

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