Oceanwide Expeditions Orders New Polar Vessel

Oceanwide Expeditions has commissioned the building of a 180-passenger polar cruise vessel. The ship, Hondius, is being built in Croatia by shipbuilder Brodosplit and will be operational in 2019.

Hondius was specially designed to support Oceanwide’s exploratory programs and activity-based shore excursions in the Arctic and Antarctica. She will be rated Polar Class 6, similar to the previous Finnish-Swedish ice-class notation 1A-super. 

The vessel will be 107 meters (350 feet) long, with a breadth of 17.6 meters (58 feet). She will be equipped with two main engines for a total of 4,200 kW, generating a speed of 15 knots.

The propulsion system consists of two medium speed main engines and one adjustable pitch propeller. The flexible power management (in combination with a shaft generator instead of a diesel-driven generator) reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. 

Further environmental features include the use of biodegradable lubrication oils; certifiably hazardous-free coating and paint of the vessel; the use of steam for onboard heating; minimal use of electrical heating (for less fuel consumption); LED interior and exterior lighting (reducing power and fuel needs); and waste heat, such as cooling water for the main engines, reused for the production of fresh water.    

A speedy zodiac embarkation is guaranteed, with two separate gangways and an indoor platform that can be used for outdoor activities such as kayaking. While Hondius is at anchor during passenger excursions, she will be able to drift or remain in position with the support of the bow and stern thrusters.  

One deck on board is reserved for an observation lounge, with a separate lecture room in order to offer simultaneous or multilingual lectures and presentations.

Over the years, Oceanwide Expeditions has developed a variety of outdoor activities and offers a dedicated Basecamp program that highlights activities such as camping, kayaking, shore excursions including snowshoeing, mountaineering, zodiac cruises, scuba diving and a photography workshop. 

Oceanwide offers shore-based excursion programs and special exploratory voyages, ship-based helicopter trips to the Ross Sea and the Emperor Penguins in the Weddell Sea, ski and sail programs in Spitsbergen and Greenland, and expeditions to the world’s most remote locations, such as Peter I Island and Bouvet Island.