Damen Shipyards Group revealed its recently finished, brand new Expedition Cruise Vessel design. The ship is a result of partnership unique in cruise industry, and benefits from unprecedented collective experience.
With Damen taking the lead, the design also draws on the skills and expertise of two additional parties: Expedition Voyage Consultants Ltd and the Danish Naval Architect firm, Knud E. Hansen.
From the outset of this project, Damen has collaborated with Expedition Voyage Consultants; an established and trusted name in the expedition cruise business known for their innovative approach to expedition management. Their wealth of practical expedition experience (with their team having led well over 500 expeditions) was instrumental in creating a fit-for-purpose vessel with safe and efficient operations embedded into its design.
Knud E. Hansen, the project’s second partner, also contributed significantly.
Damen Product Director Henk Grunstra says:
“Bringing Knud E. Hansen onto the project team allowed us to benefit from their vast collective expertise in designing passenger ships- including the first ever expedition cruise ship. By combining Knud E Hansen’s portfolio including designs for more than 700 cruise vessels and the 6,000-plus ships that Damen has built over the years, you have quite a team at your disposal.”
The Damen Expedition Cruise Vessel has been designed for expedition itineraries in both polar and tropical regions.
“The vessel’s Polar Class 6 compliance and 30 days autonomous cruising capability ensure she is globally capable and able to tackle challenging, far-reaching itineraries,” highlights Mr Grunstra.
“Furthermore, the vessel’s design is prepared to comply with SOLAS’ Safe Return to Port requirements.”
A core philosophy of the ship design was to connect its passengers to the pristine environments in which the vessel will sail. Whether sailing adjacent to remote Pacific atolls or sliding past towering Antarctic icebergs, passengers will take in the views on multiple viewing platforms that extend over the side or past the bow, providing the most spectacular vantage point of any expedition ship. Perched on the ship’s mast, a specially developed crow’s nest will aide visibility during ice navigation as well as give passengers a panoramic view over the surrounding landscape.
The ship has approx 1100 m2 of public space and 2500 m2 outdoor deck space. Max capacity is 115 passengers. The propulsion is diesel-mechanical hybrid and encompasses IMO Tier 3 compliant medium speed engines.
Damen's cruise vessel is "battery ready", which means it could be equipped with a battery system for peak-shaving (reducing peak demand), providing supplementary power for maneuvering or silent drive operations. The hybrid propulsion is the best fuel efficient technology currently available, allowing service speed 16 knots (30 kph / 18 mph) and max speed 18 knots (33 kph / 21 mph).