(GORINCHEM, Netherlands) — Damen Shipyards Group has unveiled a new expedition cruise vessel design, the result of a partnership drawing on the skills and expertise of Expedition Voyage Consultants Ltd. and the Danish naval architect firm Knud E. Hansen.
From the outset of this project, Damen has collaborated with Expedition Voyage Consultants, an established and trusted name in the expedition cruise business known for their innovative approach to expedition management. Their wealth of practical expedition experience (with their team having led well over 500 expeditions) was instrumental in creating a fit-for-purpose vessel with safe and efficient operations embedded into its design.
The Damen expedition cruise vessel has been designed for expedition operations in both remote polar and tropical regions. “The vessel’s Polar Class 6 compliance and 30 days autonomous cruising capability ensure she is globally capable and able to tackle challenging, far-reaching itineraries,” said Damen Product Director Henk Grunstra. “Furthermore, the vessel’s design is prepared to comply with SOLAS’ Safe Return to Port requirements.”
Because the capabilities of an expedition ship directly impact the quality of experience its passengers have, Damen concentrated not just on the onboard comforts but also the onboard logistics. This was furthered with the significant practical input from Expedition Voyage Consultants.
A core philosophy of the design was to connect its passengers to the pristine environments in which the vessel will sail. Whether sailing adjacent to remote Pacific atolls or sliding past towering Antarctic icebergs, passengers will take in the views on multiple viewing platforms that extend over the side or past the bow, providing the most spectacular vantage point of any expedition ship. Perched on the ship’s mast, a specially developed crow’s nest will aide visibility during ice navigation as well as give passengers a panoramic view over the surrounding landscape.
With approximately 1,100 square meters of public space and 2,500 square meters of outside deck, there will be sufficient space for 115 passengers and a 200-plus pax design will be developed soon.
For the propulsion system, Damen has selected a diesel-mechanical hybrid configuration. More specifically, this will encompass IMO Tier III compliant (EPA Tier 4 equivalent) medium-speed engines. A PTI-PTO variable frequency drive will also be included, thus enabling efficient load distribution on the engines.
Designed to be "battery ready," the vessel could be equipped with an energy storage battery system capable of various functions such as peak-shaving, provision of supplementary power for maneuvering or silent sailing operations and auxiliary generator UPS.
“This hybrid propulsion technology is the most fuel-efficient option available,” Grunstra said, referring to the vessel’s 16-knot service speed and 18-knot maximum speed. “In combination with the hull design and the effective use of electricity on board, we are expecting to reach fuel consumption and CO2 reductions of at least 20 percent.”
