Thursday 6 September 2018

Ponant names hybrid electric icebreaker

#expeditioncruising .



The name of the latest jewel in PONANT’s fleet is revealed as Le Commandant Charcot, a tribute to the man known as “the gentleman of the poles”               

A world first, this hybrid electric icebreaker powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), has been named after Captain Jean-Baptiste Charcot, as an homage to the man known as “the gentleman of the poles”.


A tribute to the famous French polar explorer, Captain Jean-Baptiste Charcot
The new vessel will bear the name of a great French explorer: Le Commandant Charcot. An explorer by vocation with a true passion for sailing, Jean-Baptiste Charcot is an emblematic figure of French polar expeditions. By naming its forthcoming polar exploration vessel after him, PONANT is paying tribute to this “gentleman of the poles”, who was respected by everyone. This choice is even more significant since this new ship will be fitted with the latest technology for minimising environmental impact, as well as a scientific laboratory for conducting operational oceanography missions and research.

Pre-bookings can be made from 6 September

Bookings for cruises aboard Le Commandant Charcot will open on 4 April 2019, but pre-bookings may be made from 6 September 2018 to secure a stateroom and the early bird price. A chance to discover the Geographic North Pole (latitude 90 degrees North) or parts of Antarctica, such as the Ross Sea, Charcot Island and Peter Island, that were inaccessible until now.

Passengers booking these itineraries will be in for veritable polar odysseys rather than cruises.
  • Sustainable development is at the core of the design of the polar exploration vessel
  • Powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Le Commandant Charcot will be fitted with the latest environmental protection technology: 
  • Advanced “Cleanship” equipment exceeding the requirements imposed by current environmental regulations:
  • Reduction of SO2, NOₓ, CO2 and particle emissions thanks to the use of LNG
  • Zero emissions in hybrid electric mode

Energy management:
  • Energy optimisation system with precise consumption measurement and optimisation of ship sailing methods
  • Energy recovery system 
  • Consumption optimisation with latest-generation electric batteries that make it possible to stop the engines for 2 to 3 hours

Water treatment:
  • Advanced waste-water treatment system 
Captain Jean-Baptiste Charcot, the gentleman of the poles

 1867 Born in Neuilly-sur-Seine.
1873 At school, he drew boats on all his exercise books.
1892 For his 25th birthday, he received a small boat as a gift from his father.
1902 He crossed the Arctic Circle and travelled to the Arctic for the first time.
1903 From 1903 to 1905 aboard Le Français and from 1908 to 1910 aboard Le Pourquoi-Pas, he reached the Antarctic regions.
1909 He located Graham Land on navigation charts, dropped anchor near Alexandra Land, and discovered the island that would bear his name.
1920 From 1920 to 1936, his scientific cruises led him from the Hebrides to the east coast of Greenland.


No comments:

Post a Comment