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Home Shipbuilding Vard Lays Keel for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ 1st Expedition Ship

Vard Lays Keel for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ 1st Expedition Ship

June 22, 2017

The keel has been laid for Hanseatic Nature, the first of two expedition new-builds owned by Hapag-Lloyd Cruises that are being built at VARD shipyard in Tulcea, Romania.

“It is a great pleasure to watch the development of our first expedition new-build. In the shipyard, as well as in the Hamburg office, many experts in their specialist field, are working daily on completing the two vessels. With our new expedition vessels, we will soon be able to offer very unique travel experiences” says Karl J. Pojer, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.

The christening and maiden voyage of Hanseatic Nature are planned for April 2019. The second ship, Hanseatic Inspiration, which will serve the international markets, will launch six months later in October 2019.

The ships’ hulls will be constructed in the Romanian shipyard and afterwards be towed to Vard Langsten in Norway, where the outfitting and the finishing of the interior will take place.

As disclosed, both ships will be fitted with cutting-edge equipment and environmental technology and will each accommodate up to 230 guests (or up to 199 guests on Antarctica cruises). The vessels will be assigned with PC6, the highest ice class for passenger ships, making it possible to conduct expeditions far into Polar waters, with tropical destinations such as the South Seas and the Amazon.