Vard delivers third expedition cruise vessel for Ponant

The 131 metre-long, 10,000gt vessel, Le Bougainville, is the third in the Ponant Explorers series, which has been designed and built by Vard. The vessel has capacity for up to 180 passengers, with each of the vessel’s 92 state rooms and suites featuring balconies or private terraces.

Vard Søviknes is currently working on a fourth sister ship, Le Dumont d’Urville, scheduled for delivery in June 2019. The vessel is undergoing outfitting at Vard Søviknes. Vard successfully delivered the first of the vessels, Le Laperouse, on schedule in June 2018. A second vessel Le Champlain was delivered in October.

Ponant exercised an option for two further Ponant Explorer series vessels in 2018. Le Bellot is scheduled for delivery in spring 2020, while Le Jacques Cartier is scheduled for delivery in summer 2020. Vard is also currently working on an electric hybrid cruise icebreaker with LNG propulsion for Ponant, which is due to be delivery in Q2 2021.

Le Bougainville set sail for its first cruise from Malaga in Spain on 16 April 2019.