French luxury expedition line Ponant said a new polar
expedition ship due in 2021 will be powered by liquefied natural gas.
Ice-hardened for polar operation, the ship was described by
Ponant as an "electric hybrid icebreaker."
The ship will be built at the Vard subsidiary of
Fincantieri, which described it as "the very first electric hybrid cruise
vessel with icebreaker characteristics and dual fuel propulsion, featuring
high-capacity batteries and LNG storage on board."
Fincantieri said the ship will be designed to carry 270
passengers and is valued at about $318 million. It will be equipped with two helicopters.
Ponant said vendors for the project include the engine maker
Wartsila, electric propulsion specialist ABB, icebreaker design firm
Aker Arctic, and GTT, a supplier of storage technology for LNG
fuel.
Vard, a Norwegian yard 79% controlled by
Fincantieri, is currently building four 185-passenger ships for Ponant, the
first of which is due next year.