Construction of Ponant's new polar exploration vessel Le Commandant Charcot has begun at Vard's shipyard in Tulcea, Romania.
Delivery of the vessel, named after celebrated French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charcot, is scheduled for 2021.
Le Commandant Charcot will be powered by LNG and will come equipped with features that help minimise environmental impact as well as a laboratory optimised for oceanographic research.