Quark Orders Polar Expedition Ship from Brodosplit
Quark Expeditions has signed an agreement with Croatian shipbuilder Brodosplit to build a new expedition ship designed for operation in the polar regions.
The 13,000+ gross metric ton, 200-passenger ship was designed by LMG Marin in cooperation with Quark Expeditions and is scheduled to be launched in 2020.
“This ship will be more than just a ship – it will be an unrivalled operational base for polar expeditions,” said Andrew White, Quark Expeditions President.
The ship will carry 20 zodiacs that will be rapidly deployable from an internal zodiac hangar with four embarkation points. For flightseeing, heli-skiing and to access places too remote for zodiacs, the ship will feature two simultaneously operable helidecks.
“Our guests travel with Quark to maximize their expedition experience, push their boundaries and experience the magic of the polar regions,” White said. “With this new ship, in the hands of the most experienced expedition team in the industry, we will get you off the ship and into nature further, faster and safer than ever before.”
On board, the vessel features spacious cabins, modern spa and fitness facilities and gourmet restaurants.
Optimization of fuel, water, provisioning and waste handling systems were key factors in the ship’s design that enable the vessel to provide 40-day operational capability for destinations such as the Ross Sea and the remote western Antarctic Phantom Coast.
The ship will feature 13 fully redundant critical systems, twin propellers powered by four engines in two separate engine rooms and a fully operational emergency bridge. All expedition operations will be run by Quark Academy-trained expedition staff
“Quark Expeditions only operates in the polar regions – the most unforgiving areas of the world – so safety is our top priority,” White said. “That’s why we created Quark Academy to ensure the highest level of training in the industry and why, when we designed this ship, we included cutting-edge safety features and made no compromises for non-polar operations.”