Kongsberg Maritime has won contracts worth about NOK300 mill to equip three adventure cruise ships, with a fourth to follow.
Under construction at WestSea Viana Shipyard in Portugal and destined for delivery to Portuguese cruise company Mystic Cruises, the vessels are destined for expeditions in Polar regions.
The 126 m, 9,300 gt luxury vessels will join an existing trio of sisterships, bringing the fleet up to seven identical vessels, the first of which – ‘World Explorer’ – entered service in 2019.
Designed by Italian naval architect Giuseppe Tringali, the ships have an operating cruise speed of 16 kn and have hulls and propellers strengthened for use in ice, making them suitable to visit destinations, which are not accessible to larger cruise ships.
Each vessel is fitted with luxury suite and cabin accommodation for 200 pax.
Vitor Figueiredo, Board Member, West Sea Shipyard, commented: “These new orders reflect the excellent work achieved with the three previous ships. Having been entrusted by Mystic Cruises with the expansion of its fleet of ‘Explorer’ vessels, we look forward to successfully overcoming this new challenge in partnership with Kongsberg Maritime, maintaining of course the highest quality standards.”
Kongsberg will deliver the main engines, auxiliary engines, motion control, propulsion, power electric systems, automation and control systems.
A hybrid propulsion system allows the engines to operate at variable speeds, maximising their efficiency for the required power and reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, while Kongsberg’s dynamic positioning technology allows the vessel to hold position without using anchors, thus protecting fragile ecosystems on the sea bed.
Egil Haugsdal, President, Kongsberg Maritime, explained: “These repeat contracts are a strong endorsement of Kongsberg Maritime’s commitment to the active cruise market, which is growing rapidly, as shown by this fleet expansion to seven ships.
“It is a great pleasure to work with WestSea Viana and Mystic Cruises, both leaders in their industries, to deliver these truly innovative vessels. Our advanced propulsion and control systems continue to make us a clear choice for customers looking for efficient, reliable technologies that minimise the impact of maritime activities on our ocean environment, and we are confident that our equipment will continue to deliver efficient and sustainable operation for Mystic Cruises as they explore some of our planet’s most remote locations,” he concluded.
