First steel cut for Ulstein’s polar expedition vessel at Crist yard
The steel cutting ceremony of the first polar new build in the Lindblad Expeditions – National Geographic fleet was carried out on Friday morning, 5 January 2018 at Crist SA yard, Gdynia, Poland. The vessel, yard number 312 at Ulstein Verft, will be ready for her first expeditions in 2020. The cutting of the first steel marks the production start for a newbuild vessel project. The steel cutting ceremony was supervised by Janusz Stechly at DNV-GL and yard representatives Ole Osnes Gjerde and Marek Lewczuk.
The expedition cruise ship is designed by Ulstein Design & Solutions AS with a focus on safety and comfort. A core feature is the patented X-Bow, which provides improved comfort for passengers in rough weather. Expanded fuel and water tanks provide for extended operations in remote areas.
Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. is an expedition travel company that works in partnership with National Geographic to inspire people to explore and care about the planet. The partnership’s educationally oriented voyages allow guests to interact with and learn from leading scientists, naturalists and researchers while discovering stunning natural environments, above and below the sea.
The partly outfitted vessel will be delivered from Crist SA yard to Ulstein Verft. The superstructure, manufactured in another Baltic shipyard will be installed at Crist shipyard in Gdynia.
rel (Ulstein), PBS
