Norwegian expedition cruise operator Hurtigruten has christened its new explorer ship, MS Spitsbergen, in Svolvær, Lofoten.
Having a speed of 17.1 knots, MS Spitsbergen will be equipped and adapted for sailings in polar waters.
With its gross tonnage of 7,344 tonnes, the vessel is 100.54 meters long and 18 meters wide.
MV Spitsbergen – which is able to accommodate 335 passengers – will sail around Norway first, and after that start further expeditions to Greenland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Shetland and Arctic Canada, from 2017, according to Hurtigruten.
Next to MS Spitsbergen, the company is to add two more ships – MS Richard With and MS Midnatsol.