Hurtigruten Names Hybrid Powered Ships
byDaniel McCarthy/Roald Amundsen in Svalbard 1925. Photo:
Hurtigruten’s two new hybrid powered expedition ships will be named “Roald Amundsen” and “Fridtjof Nansen,” after the two most important polar pioneers from the era when Hurtigruten first started.
The namings mark 105 years since Roald Amundsen became the first person in the world to plant his flag on the South Pole and 128 years since Fridtjof Nansen skied across Greenland, two major milestones in polar exploration.
Hurtigruten got its start 120 years ago, when Richard With first started exploration tourism in the Arctic.
The ships are due to be delivered in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Both ships are designed by Rolls-Royce in collaboration with Norwegian yacht designer Espen Øino.