EuropeLNG as Fuel

Ponant’s LNG-powered polar exploration vessel nearing completion

By LNG Prime Staff
Ponant's LNG-powered polar cruise vessel nearing completion
Image: Ponant/Emerick Le Mouel

Ponant’s first LNG-powered, hybrid-electric polar cruise and exploration vessel has set out for trials offshore Norway.

The 140 meters long icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot started its trials on April 16, according to the French cruise firm.

Norway’s Vard, a unit of Italy’s Fincantieri, is completing the luxury vessel at its yard in Søviknes. The ship designed for intense polar explorations previously arrived from Vard Tulcea in Romania.

Featuring a 270-passenger capacity, Ponant claims this is the world’s first LNG-powered, hybrid-electric passenger vessel to navigate in polar waters.

Moreover, the BV-classed ship will have Icebreaker 3 and POLAR CAT-A service notations, and feature POLAR CLASS 2.

The vessel has dual-fuel engines but also two GTT’s Mark III membrane technology tanks for a total capacity of 4500 cbm, enabling it to complete its entire voyage on LNG.

Most Popular

LNG Terminals

US weekly LNG exports climb to 36 shipments

US liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants sent 36 cargoes during the week ending June 17, up two cargoes from the week before, according to the Energy Information Administration.
LNG Terminals

LNG Canada ships 100th cargo

Shell-led LNG Canada has shipped the 100th cargo of liquefied natural gas from its Kitimat facility on the west coast of Canada.
Contracts and Tenders

Vopak, Transnet seek EPC contractor for South African LNG terminal

A joint venture of Dutch terminal operator Vopak and Transnet Pipelines has officially launched its formal expression of interest process to engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors for the planned LNG import terminal in South Africa’s Richards Bay.

More News Like This

Contracts and Tenders

GTT secures new onshore LNG tank gig in China

French LNG containment giant GTT has secured an order from China Chengda Engineering to design three 240,000-cbm onshore LNG tanks as part of PipeChina's Yuedong LNG terminal project in Jieyang, Guangdong province.
Contracts and Tenders

BW confirms new LNG carrier move

BW LNG, a unit of Singapore-based gas shipping giant BW, confirmed that it has ordered two new three-tank LNG carriers from South Korea’s HD Hyundai Samho.
Contracts and Tenders

GTT clinches tank gig for MISC’s LNG carriers

France’s GTT has secured a new tank design order from Chinese shipbuilder Hudong-Zhonghua for five MISC's liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.
Corporate

GTT secured orders for 29 LNG carriers in Q1

French LNG containment giant GTT received orders for 29 liquefied natural gas carriers, two very large ethane carriers, and one LNG storage tank in the first quarter of this year, while its revenue rose 1 percent compared to the same period last year.