By
Rebecca Gibson |
Damen has teamed up with Expedition Voyage Consultants to develop an expedition cruise ship that will be able to cater for around 100 guests and operate worldwide.
This partnership follows a successful cooperation with Expedition Voyage Consultants’ sister company, EYOS Expeditions, which resulted in Damen developing the world’s first Polar Code-compliant expedition yacht, SeaXplorer.
“This vessel will be capable of taking expedition cruise passengers beyond the usual range in terms of both geography and experience,” said Ben Lyons, CEO of Expedition Voyage Consultants and EYOS Expeditions. “The vessel’s high ice capability and endurance make her globally capable, and she will be equally at home in the tropics or polar waters. She is designed to be a multi-functional platform equipped with all of the tools an operator might need.”
Expedition Voyage Consultants’ team has more than 100 years of collective experience in the expedition cruise business. During that time, the team has sailed aboard a wide range of commercial expedition vessels ranging from icebreakers to luxury cruise ships.
“Combining that operational knowledge with Damen’s expertise will create a highly functional and reliable vessel purpose built for expedition cruising, and it is very exciting to be able to incorporate these operational elements into the design from the first line,” said Lyons.
Capable of visiting virtually any destination, the expedition ship will be designed to enable cruise lines to offer activities such as helicopter flights and submersible diving, as well as the more traditional small boat landings and watersports.
The final design will be unveiled this autumn.
“This ship will be able to offer innovative and exciting itineraries with a higher level of safety, economy and comfort,” said Henk Grunstra, Damen’s product director. “This partnership brings two industry leaders together; Damen has unparalleled experience from building more than 5,500 vessels, including complex vessels such as passenger ships, offshore patrol vessels, sail training vessels and super yachts. Expedition Voyage Consultants has decades of expedition knowledge operating voyages from the polar regions to the remotest tropical islands. Combining this will create an exceptional product.”