The world’s first hybrid electric-powered cruise ship will be the world’s first ever to be christened in Antarctica!
MS Roald Amundsen Making History
MS Roald Amundsen which just recently joined the Hurtigruten fleet will be the first ever cruise ship to have its naming ceremony in Antarctica. The ceremony will take place this fall and as the ship is named after polar hero Roald Amundsen it only makes sense to be christened in the remote region.
Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam says:
“We can think of no better place to name the truly unique MS Roald Amundsen than the waters of Antarctica, where no ship has ever been christened before.”
The cruise line will follow history when Amundsen christened his fame ship in 1917, not with a traditional bottle of champagne but with a chunk of ice. This is exactly what Hurtigruten will do this fall. The godmother has also not yet been revealed.
The exclusive expedition vessel is a brand new class for the cruise line and is hybrid electric powered. The ship has been purpose-built at the Kleven Yard for exploring some of the most spectacular waters on the planet such as in Antarctica.
MS Roald Amundsen departed on her maiden voyage off the coast of Norway in late June 2019. The ship has ground-breaking green technology and has reduced emissions of more than 20%compared to other cruise ships the same size.
MS Roald Amundsen Facts:
- Large battery packs and groundbreaking green technology
- Built: Kleven Yards, Norway, 2019
- Gross tonnage: 20,889
- Length: 459 ft
- Breadth: 8 ft
- Draft: 17 ft
- Guests: 530
- Cabins: 265
- Crew: 151
- Cruising speed: 15 knots
- Flag: Norwegian
- Ice class: PC-6
MS Roald Amundsen’s maiden season includes expedition cruises along the Norwegian coast and up to Svalbard and Greenland, before becoming the first hybrid electric–powered expedition ship to attempt a traverse of the legendary Northwest Passage, following in the wake of the namesake explorer Roald Amundsen’s famed journey.
In addition to eco-friendly expedition cruises along the west coast of North and South America—with destinations larger cruise ships cannot reach—MS Roald Amundsen will head to the extreme south for a full 2019/2020 Antarctic season.
Photo Courtesy: Hurtigruten
