Polar News

As the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB 10) and crew departed Seattle recently for its deployment to Antarctica in support of Operation Deep Freeze, all eyes come back around to the U.S. icebreaking fleet, or lack thereof, as the nation and its allies work to help build the fleet to be larger and stronger than ever, facing potential national security threats that come with a strong Russian and Chinese presence in the polar regions.Click here to read about "U.S. Polar Security…

HX (formerly known as Hurtigruten Expeditions) has partnered with the University of Tasmania, Australia, and its Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) on a training program for Antarctic cruise passengers.For the first time, HX’s guests and expedition teams will have the opportunity to explore Antarctic and polar science with world-leading researchers in a university-developed program that blends immersive learning with real-world experiences – with the online course…

Ifremer, Jean-Louis Etienne and the entire Polar POD team announced its construction by the Piriou shipyards in association with 3C Metal, under the direction of the project owner, Ifremer. The scientific program of this international oceanographic "station" is being overseen by the French National Centre for Scientific Research (Centre national de la recherche scientifique, CNRS), in partnership with the French National Centre for Space Studies (Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales…

Lindblad Expeditions’ National Geographic Endurance successfully completed its first sea trials in Storfjorden, the entrance to Norway’s Geirangerfjord.The next-generation expedition ship is a purpose-built for polar navigation and the first polar new build for Lindblad Expeditions.During the trials, the ship was put through a series of exercises which tested engines, azipods, navigation systems and emergency maneuvers.The first of two new polar vessels for the line, the 126-guest National Geographic Endurance is fully stabilized with the highest ice class (PC5 Category A) of any purpose-built passenger vessel, and features the distinctive X-Bow which will afford the smoothest…

UK’s new polar research ship being built at Cammell Laird in Birkenhead RRS Sir David Attenborough has achieved another important milestone with the commissioning and testing of the ship’s lifeboats and lifeboat davits.The lifeboats, each capable of carrying 90 people, are now in position on both sides of the vessel, along with the operational davits that allow for the safe deployment and recovery of the boats.RRS Sir David Attenborough is the first International Maritime Organisation’s Polar Code-compliant ship to have been built in the UK. These regulations extend to the ship’s lifeboats and davits, all of which are capable of operating at the Polar Service Temperature of -35ᵒC.British Antarctic Survey and Norsafe worked closely to develop the equipment…

A MacGregor project team has been involved in the polar icebreaker Xue Long (Snow Dragon) 2 project for China’s 36th Antarctic expedition from the very early stage back in 2011MacGregor is working collaboratively with the he Polar Research Institute of China (PRIC) project team and the Marine Design and Research Institute of China (MARIC) in Shanghai to develop different technical solutions required to enable deck handling equipment to operate effectively at temperatures of minus 45 degrees centigrade.MacGregor’s deck handling solution and scope of supply for Xue Long 2 comprises three offshore cranes, the research equipment deck handling systems, oceanographic winches, deck machinery and hatch covers.

Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, a global player in expedition cruises and adventure travel experiences, has celebrated the float out of National Geographic Endurance in Ulstein Verft, Norway.The first polar newbuild for the line, the 126-guest vessel is fully stabilized with the highest ice class (PC5 Category A) of any purpose-built passenger vessel, according to a press release.The vessel is scheduled for delivery in January 2020.Read Maritime Reporter & Engineering News' feature on Sven Lindblad from earlier in 2019 here: https://www.marinelink.com/news/explorer-profile-sven-lindblad-463899"Due to Polar Class 5 (PC5), the ship can venture far into polar areas.

Well-trained seafarers are essential to safe ship navigation in Polar waters and International Maritime Organization (IMO)  has been playing its part with a training course for maritime instructors, underway in Valparaíso, Chile (18-22 November).The course is training participants from maritime training institutions in South America responsible for training seafarers – with a focus on IMO’s Polar Code. The code, when properly applied, is a powerful tool for safeguarding the environment and protecting the lives of seafarers and passengers in the challenging polar regions.It entered into force in January 2017 – setting out mandatory standards covering the full range of design…

The Coast Guard needs a ship that can do more than just break ice; it needs a multi-mission ship to provide for the nation’s security, asserting its sovereign rights, and protecting its long-term economic interests. That ship is the Polar Security Cutter.Since Russia cashed the check in 1867 for the purchase of Alaska the U.S. has been an Arctic nation. Today, it is one of eight countries that have territorial land or seas above the Arctic Circle or in the polar region (six of those countries have Arctic Ocean coastline or an exclusive economic zone above the Arctic Circle). The U.S.

Maritime trade between Arctic destinations and the rest of the world is expected to expand and an increasing number of ships are now undertaking voyages in polar waters. Technical developments in ship design and equipment continue to facilitate more and more ship operations in remote polar areas, despite challenging and unpredictable sea and weather conditions.The International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code), adopted by the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO)…

Russia's Far East Shipping Company (FESCO) and the National Center for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) of the Ministry of Earth Sciences of India have extended the contract for supplying India’s research stations in Antarctica.“Vasiliy Golovnin” – an icebreaking cargo ship – will deliver general cargo, food products and fuel to Bharati and Maitri stations during Antarctica’s summer in 2019-2020.Scientists of the National Center for Polar and Ocean Research will also join the expedition for the research. The ship will start its voyage in December 2019.Under the previous contract, in 2019 the ship with 2 helicopters and a self-propelled barge were used to deliver more than 4 000 tons of cargo to Bharati and Maitri stations…

Changing climatic conditions are opening up the polar regions to more and more maritime activity, said International Maritime Organization (IMO).But ships which operate in the harsh Arctic and Antarctic regions are exposed to many unique risks – so their safety, and the protection of the polar environment, have always been a matter of concern for IMO.IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim is visiting Ilulissat, Greenland (25-29 August) to participate in a high-level roundtable on Arctic shipping. It is the first ever visit to Greenland by an IMO Secretary-General.During his opening remarks, Lim emphasized the need for balanced and sustainable shipping activities in Arctic waters.

Polar adventures specialist Quark Expeditions is to introduce new livery on Ultramarine, it’s latest expedition cruise vessel, which will debut in time for the 2020-2021 season in Antarctica.The 200 passenger polar expedition ship is under construction at Croatia’s Brodosplit shipyard. The 128 meter vessel is being built to a design by Sembcorp Marine’s Bergen, Norway, headquartered subsidiary LMG Marin.The renderings showcase new livery featuring Quark Expeditions’ distinctive yellow “Q” logo spanning the full height of the ship, reflecting Quark’s mission to go beyond the predictable, said a press release.New interior renderings highlight Ultramarine’s spacious suites as well as a range of striking public spaces…

International Maritime Organization (IMO)  was on hand to offer advice and guidance at the third edition of the Arctic Council's Arctic Shipping Best Practice Information Forum, held in London, United Kingdom (3-4 June).The Forum supports the effective implementation of IMO's Polar Code. This year's theme was "'From Theory to Practice" and provided an opportunity for sharing of best practices and experiences.The Forum was attended by representatives from a range of stakeholders with an interest in safe and environmentally sound Arctic shipping, including shipowners and operators, regulators, classification societies, marine insurers…

Norwegian expedition cruise operator Hurtigruten has partnered with the Norwegian startup Brim Explorer, introducing battery powered catamarans custom built for Polar water exploration.Debuting in the spring of 2020, the 24-meter vessel will operate a variety of daily silent and sustainable ocean excursions from her homeport Longyearbyen on the Arctic island of Svalbard - operating under the Hurtigruten Svalbard brand."Brim and Hurtigruten found each other through our common passion for the oceans. Their vision to change the way people experience the Arctic is a perfect match to our bold sustainability ambitions. We firmly believe the future of travel is emission-free…

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)’s next icebreaker is based on a German research vessel, features a unique Finnish propulsion design and is driven by American diesels, shipbuilder VT Halter Marine said.The U.S. Department of the Navy has awarded VT Halter Marine of Pascagoula, Mississippi, as the prime contractor of a $745,940,860 fixed-price incentive-firm contract for the detail design and construction of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) PSC (formerly the Heavy Polar Icebreaker).VT Halter Marine is teamed with Technology Associates, Inc. (TAI) as the ship designer and, for over two years, has participated in the U.S. Coast Guard’s Heavy Polar Icebreaker Industry Study.The ship design is an evolution from the mature ”Polar Stern II” currently in design and construction…

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises presented the Hanseatic nature for the first time in Hamburg on Saturday (May 04, 2019).The provider of adventure and classic cruising with luxury voyages to Polar Regions, Caribbean, Central America, Europe & more said that Hanseatic nature is the first of three, structurally- identical ships in the cruise line’s new expedition class. The ship left Hamburg on May 5, 2019 for its inaugural cruise, which will take it to the Hebrides, Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands, finishing in Bergen. This summer, the ship will visit the Arctic.The Hanseatic nature is a small, manoeuvrable and expedition ship, to be positioned in the 5-star segment. Its construction, design and routes revolve around providing a true expedition experience and getting as close as possible to nature.

The first polar newbuild in the history of Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic Endurance arrived in Ulsteinvik, Norway, Tuesday after traveling nearly six days from Gydnia, Poland, where the hull was constructed.The workers at Ulstein followed closely the hull arrival of the polar expedition cruise vessel, said a press release from the shipyard situated in Ulstein Group's primary base of operations, Ulsteinvik.National Geographic Endurance is the first X-BOW polar vessel to be built at the yard. The Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic vessel will now undergo comprehensive outfitting work.The hull will be transferred to the yard’s dock hall, where insulation work and electrical installations will commence.

Quark Expeditions, Polar Region expeditions company,  is celebrating its milestone 30th year with the launch of its new Antarctic 2020.21 season.The company specializing in expeditions to the Antarctic and the Arctic said that with voyages ranging from eight to 23 days, its Antarctic 20.21 season will feature seven distinct expeditions and 29 total departures, allowing guests of every type to discover the polar experiences perfectly suited to their needs and desires.“No one understands the possibilities, or the demands, of the polar environments better than we do,” says Ed Bonner, VP Production of Quark Expeditions. “For thirty years—longer than anyone in the industry—we have been focused exclusively on delivering the magic of the Polar Regions to passengers from across the globe.

Miami-based SunStone Ships signed to build a sixth Infinity-class expedition vessel in China, continuing the European designed, Chinese built concept.The passengership operator said in a press release that it already has a long-term charter agreement in place. Delivery is set for September 2021.SunStone President and CEO, Niels-Erik Lund, commented, “We have worked diligently in obtaining the long term charters and shipbuilding orders for the Infinity Class vessels and we continue to move forward with the contracts and building at a very satisfactory speed, safety and quality level”.Infinity Class Vessels are 104 meters long, and 18 meters wide, having a draft of 5.1 meters.

The operator of polar exploration cruises Quark Expeditions will install with an Evac Complete Cleantech Solution that now includes a ballast water management system."With Evac solutions, it can be assured that Quark's new ship will have the least impact on the environment," claimed the provider of integrated qater management systems for the marine and offshore industries.The new expedition ship designed to carry up to 200 passengers will be built by Brodosplit in Croatia and is scheduled to be launched in 2020.“We are confident that the Evac Group will be a perfect partner for us in the execution of the vessel,” said Tatjana Mlinaric, Senior Contracts Manager at DIV Group, the Brodosplit mother company.

Finnish state-owned company Arctia Oy said that its vessels MSV Fennica and MSV Nordica have now both received certificates of compliance with the IMO Polar Code. Both vessels now have a Polar Class 3 (PC3) class notation.According to the owner and operator of Finnish icebreaker fleet, they are among the very few in the world to have this high ice class notation.Arctia Offshore Ltd. is one of the first commercial operators to commit to stricter manning and training requirements, as well as decreasing the environmental footprint of vessels operating in polar areas, on its own initiative and in accordance with the Polar Code.The Polar Code…

Croatia's Brodosplit shipyard today cut steel for Quark Expeditions' first newbuild, a 200-passenger vessel scheduled for 2020 launch.The ceremony took place at the shipyard and museum of Brodosplit, and was attended by senior executives from both companies, including President of Quark Expeditions Andrew White, CEO of DIV Group Tomislav Debeljak and CEO of Brodosplit Zoran Kunkera.The new ship from Quark Expeditions is the first of its kind, combining leading-edge technology, long-range operational capability and advanced safety systems to reach new frontiers in polar exploration, said a press release from the provider of polar adventure travel for three decades.“Every aspect of the ship has been built with one thing in mind: continuing to redefine what is possible in polar adventure…