Ponant to build electric icebreaker

Ponant, the French luxury cruise line, is to build the world’s first electric hybrid icebreaker, as it continues to further add to its list of new vessels.

The new ship will be built by Vard, a subsidiary of Fincantieri, and is due to be delivered in 2021.

The icebreaker will have 135 cabins and take passengers to regions like the true geographic North Pole (90 degrees North Latitude), the Weddell Sea, the Ross Sea and Peter I Island.

Last year, Ponant announced plans to almost double its fleet with four new expedition ships after it was purchased by Artemis, the holding company of the billionaire Pinault family.

The new vessel will join Ponant’s current fleet of Le Ponant, Le Boréal, L’Austral, Le Soléal and Le Lyrial.

The first of the ships is scheduled for 2018.