By
Elizabeth Robinson |
Vard has held a steel-cutting ceremony for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ new Hanseatic Inspiration at its yard in Tulcea, Romania.
Karl J. Pojer, the cruise line’s CEO, officially started the steel-cutting process, marking the start of Hanseatic Inspiration’s construction. During the official ceremony, Vard’s senior vice president and yard director Tudorel Topa presented Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ management team with a steel silhouette of the Hanseatic Inspiration.
Hanseatic Inspiration is the second new expedition ship Vard is building for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and will launch in October 2019. Her sister, Hanseatic Nature, will debut in April 2019.
“The demand for expedition cruising is three times higher than supply and so with our two newbuilds we shall be ideally prepared for the future and also satisfy the international marketplace,” said Pojer. “Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is growing, which underlines the TUI Group’s strategy in the cruise segment. Hanseatic inspiration will be marketed to an English-speaking audience.”
Vard, a subsidiary of Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, will fit Hanseatic Nature and Hanseatic Inspiration with advanced equipment and environmental technology. The 230-guest ships will also have the highest ice-class rating for passenger ships – Polar Class 6 – so they can be used in the polar regions and in warmer destinations such as the Amazon and the South Seas. Onboard Zodiacs – some of which will have eco-friendly electric drive systems – will make it possible to land in expedition areas that do not have ports and there will be a marina for waterspouts.