West Sea secures orders for polar expedition vessels

The order, which is worth EUR286.7 million, is being financed by local Portuguese banks. It takes the total value of orders placed by Mystic Cruises at the Portuguese shipbuilding subsidiary of Martifer above EUR500 million.

The four vessels are due for delivery from the former Estaleiros Navais de Viana do Castelo shipyard in 2023.

The four polar expedition vessels of the 9,300gt Explorer Class will be built based on the Polar Code (ice class) and equipped with a hybrid propulsion system. Each one will have the capacity to accommodate 200 passengers and 112 crew members.

The order confirms Mystic Cruises’ plans to expand in the international luxury cruise segment. These four new vessels will be named WORLD TRAVELLER, WORLD SEEKER, WORLD ADVENTURER and WORLD DISCOVERER and will operate for Mystic’s US brand Atlas Ocean Voyages.

Kongsberg is supplying the propulsion package for the vessels, featuring hybrid shaft generators (HSG) and a low voltage AFE SAVeCUBE power electric system, which allows the engines to operate at variable speeds, maximising their efficiency.

The prime movers are all from the Bergen medium-speed engine range, still part of the Rolls-Royce Group through Rolls-Royce Power Systems, and encompassing two C25:33L8P main diesels and a C25:33L8P auxiliary dual generator.