Over the coming year, an unprecedented 15 new expedition vessels able to cut through ice floes are arriving to meet what is predicted to be a surge in demand for polar and off the beaten track exploration once travel resumes. There are at least that many more exploration ships in development for the future.
They’re small—with guest counts in the hundreds rather than thousands–and sturdy and stable enough to make their way confidently through icy seas. And they offer comforts that could only have been dreamed of by polar explorers of past eras.
Most importantly the new breed of ships promises to incorporate eco-innovations to minimize emissions and engine noise that can disrupt wildlife, while boosting energy efficiency. One new class of ships can even run silently on hybrid electric motors.
Read it all in The Cruisington Times