US-based cruise company Lindblad Expeditions Holdings and Norwegian Ulstein Group recently celebrated the keel laying of Lindblad’s second polar newbuild.
The occasion at the CRIST shipyard in Gdynia, Poland, on September 18 also served as the official naming ceremony of the vessel .
National Geographic Resolution, the newest polar expedition vessel, is a sister ship to the National Geographic Endurance which is being finalized at Ulstein Verft.
Scheduled for delivery in the third quarter of 2021, National Geographic Resolution will expand the company’s fleet to four ships. It is seen as the next phase of Lindblad’s fleet expansion following the launches of National Geographic Quest in July 2017, National Geographic Venture in December 2018 and the scheduled delivery of National Geographic Endurance in Q1 2020.
The 126-passenger Polar Class 5 Category A vessel will feature Ulstein’s X-BOW, a bow that provides fuel efficiency, and a very high ice class for access deep into polar regions. The ship’s expanded fuel and water tanks provide for extended operations in remote areas while the zero-speed stabilizers will ensure stability, whether at zero speed or full steam ahead, Ulstein explained.
Lindblad Expeditions works in partnership with National Geographic to produce marine expedition programs and promote conservation and sustainable tourism around the world.