PONANT, leader in luxury polar expeditions and the only French cruise line, confirmed the order for the first electric hybrid icebreaker, propelled by Liquefied Natural Gas. A very first in the cruising world.

PONANT announced the order for the first electric hybrid cruise icebreaker, with LNG propulsion, the Ponant Icebreaker, therefore reaffirming its place as the world leader in luxury polar expeditions.

Following a public tender led by Barry Rogliano Salles and in which top European shipyards took part, PONANT decided to appoint VARD (VARD Holding Limited), FINCANTIERI’s Norwegian subsidiary, to build the exceptional unit. Delivery is scheduled for 2021.

PONANT is working with the best international experts to execute this world first.

• Aker Arctic, an internationally renowned company specializing in the development and design of the most demanding icebreaking vessels
• Wärtsilä for the best Dual Fuel diesel engines on the market
• GTT, the supplier of an innovative storage technology for LNG Fuel
• ABB, a supplier of the most powerful Azipod® Units on the market and electric hybrid structures

The ship design was created in joint co-operation by Stirling Design International and Aker Arctic.

With just 135 staterooms and luxury service, the innovative vessel is « Clean Ship » certified and environmentally friendly. The ship will take passengers to never explored polar destinations, such as the true geographic North Pole (90 degrees North Latitude), the Weddell Sea, the Ross Sea and Peter I Island.

Established in 1988 by Jean Emmanuel Sauvée and a dozen officers from the French Merchant Navy, La Compagnie PONANT is the world leader in luxury expeditions and the only French-owned cruise line. Today, PONANT is leading the way with a new style of luxury cruising through a unique conception of sea travel which combines exceptional itineraries and luxury hotel services, aboard luxurious smaller-scale ships.