Scandinavian investors are currently breathing new life into the 53-passenger cruise ship MV Polar Pioneer for a return to the market next year.
After being laid up in late 2019 because of structural changes, the ice-class "1A Super" vessel has been reborn.
Throughout the last two years, a group of Scandinavian investors has been working to get the ship back into the polar waters. The Arctic and Antarctic expedition ship is scheduled to restart voyages in 2022.
MV Polar Pioneer is currently undergoing a drydock refurbishment, including an upgrade of the cabins, the main lounge/bar area, and the toilet system. The goal is that those who have traveled on her before will recognize the expedition ship, but at the same time benefit from a higher standard during the expedition.
Polar Pioneer (initially named "Akademik Schuleykin") is one of all ten Akademik Shuleykin-class Russian vessels built back in the 1980s in Turku Finland. These ice-strengthened research ships are perfect for sailing in polar regions with heavy sea ice. They were originally built for the USSR-Soviet Union's oceanographic research purposes. Around 50% of these boats ended up as chartered polar cruise ships, but just a few are still operating as such.
From the same class (and still operational as icebreaking cruise ships) are Professor Molchanov (1982), Professor Multanovskiy (1983) and Professor Khromov (1984/fka Spirit of Enderby).