By
Rebecca Gibson |
Polar adventure operator Quark Expeditions is to name its new expedition ship Ultramarine when she debuts in late 2020.
The name was inspired by the name of the deep blue colour pigment, which was originally made by grinding lapis lazuli into a powder and means ‘beyond the sea’.
“We picked the name Ultramarine because it links us directly to the sea, which of course is integral to our identity,” said Andrew White, president of Quark Expeditions. “But the word ‘ultra’, especially by its modern-day definition of ‘beyond what is ordinary’, reflects our signature approach to polar exploration. We create expedition experiences that go beyond what others in the industry can offer – especially in terms of off-ship experiences. Ultramarine has been designed in a way that will continue to allow us to go beyond and take people to places no one else can.”
Currently under construction at the Brodosplit shipyard in Croatia, the 200-guest expedition ship will be built using entirely recycled construction materials and will meet Polar Class 6 standards. The 128-metre-long ship will be powered by four main engines with diesel-electric gensets allowing her to sail at a top speed of 16 knots, as well as multiple technical features to reduce her environmental impact. They include efficient water treatment and waste handling solutions, a heat recovery system that reuses excess energy, and dynamic positioning technology that will enable the ship to remain in position without an anchor to protect the sensitive seabed.
Onboard highlights will include 103 guest cabins in 11 different categories, as well as a spa, fitness facilities, multiple restaurants, indoor and outdoor observation spaces, two simultaneously operable helidecks and an internal hanger with capacity for 20 quick-deploy Zodiacs. Guests will also be able to use sea kayaks, paddle boards and more.
“Ultramarine will be an unrivalled operational base for polar adventures,” said White. “This new vessel – in the hands of the most experienced team in the expedition industry – will allow our guests to go further into the polar regions than ever before, while maintaining the same respect for nature that has always been paramount to us. Ultramarine will allow our guests to spend their days embracing the off-ship adventures that have made Quark Expeditions so popular. And once back on the ship after a day of polar exploration, they will be able to rest, relax and rejuvenate in a high-end, modern contemporary space.”
Ultramarine will embark on her first itineraries in the 2020-2021 Antarctic season.