PONANT, leader in luxury polar expeditions and the only French cruise line, confirmed the order for the first electric hybrid icebreaker, propelled by Liquefied Natural Gas. A very first in the  cruising world.

PONANT announced the order for the first electric hybrid cruise icebreaker, with LNG propulsion, the Ponant Icebreaker, therefore reaffirming its place as the world leader in luxury polar expeditions.

Following a public tender led by Barry Rogliano Salles and in which top European shipyards took part, PONANT decided to appoint VARD (VARD Holding Limited), FINCANTIERI's Norwegian subsidiary, to build the exceptional unit. Delivery is scheduled for 2021.

PONANT is working with the best international experts to execute this world first.

• Aker Arctic, an internationally renowned company specialising in the development and design of the most demanding icebreaking vessels
• Wärtsilä for the best Dual Fuel diesel engines on the market
• GTT, the supplier of an innovative storage technology for LNG Fuel

-       ABB, a supplier of the most powerful Azipod® Units on the market and electric hybrid structures

And the ship design was created in joint co-operation by Stirling Design International and Aker Arctic. 

With just 135 staterooms and luxury service, the innovative vessel is « Clean Ship » certified and environmentally friendly. The ship will take passengers to never explored polar destinations, such as the true geographic North Pole (90 degrees North Latitude), the Weddell Sea, the Ross Sea and Peter I Island. 

ABOUT PONANT

Established in 1988 by Jean Emmanuel Sauvée and a dozen officers from

the French Merchant Navy, La Compagnie PONANT is the world leader in luxury expeditions and the only French-owned cruise line. Today, PONANT is leading the way with a new style of luxury cruising through a unique conception of sea travel which combines exceptional itineraries and luxury hotel services, aboard luxurious smaller-scale ships. www.ponant.com

 ABOUT VARD

Vard Holdings Limited, together with its subsidiaries, is one of the major global designers and shipbuilders of offshore and specialized vessels. Headquartered in Norway and with approx. 10,000 employees, VARD operates nine strategically located shipbuilding facilities, including five in Norway, two in Romania, one in Brazil and one in Vietnam. Through its specialized subsidiaries, VARD develops power and automation systems, deck handling equipment and vessel accommodation solutions, and provides design and engineering services to the global maritime industry. VARD is listed on the Main Board of the Singapore Exchange. Majority shareholder is Fincantieri Oil & Gas S.p.A.,  a wholly owned subsidiary of FINCANTIERI S.p.A., owns 75% in the Group.

Alexandra OLIVARI | + 33 4 88 66 65 42 | aolivari@ponant.com          Laure FOULATIER | + 33 4 88 66 64 38 | lfoulatier@ponant.com