VESSEL REVIEW | Hanseatic Spirit – Norwegian yard completes third luxury expedition ship for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

Germany's Hapag-Lloyd Cruises recently took delivery of a new luxury expedition ship. Built by Fincantieri's Norwegian subsidiary Vard to DNV ice class and Polar Code 6 standards, the Bahamas-flagged Hanseatic Spirit is the third in a series to be delivered to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises beginning in 2019. The vessel is notable for its optimised hull form, which also encompasses the stern to minimise the impact caused by slamming, thus further guaranteeing passenger comfort.

Like its sister vessels Hanseatic Nature and Hanseatic Inspiration, the newbuild has a length of 138 metres, a beam of 22 metres, a draught of 5.6 metres, a gross tonnage of 16,000, and 120 cabins that can house a maximum of 230 passengers, though a maximum of only 199 guests will be accommodated during expedition voyages to the frigid Arctic and Antarctic regions.

As with all other ships in the Hapag-Lloyd Cruises fleet, the decision was made to have Hanseatic Spirit be fuelled by low-sulphur diesel, which the operator has claimed can help ensure emissions reductions of as much as 80 per cent compared to expedition ships of similar size and that run on heavy fuel oil. Additional emissions-reducing features include selective catalytic reduction systems and shore power charging equipment.

However, unlike other Hapag-Lloyd cruise ships, the newbuild is being promoted as catering only to adult passengers, and so there are no installed child-friendly spaces such as play areas.

Some of the cabins, particularly those on the sun deck, are fitted with retractable glass balconies though all guest cabins are outside cabins with balconies, which means guests are afforded clear views of the surroundings. The toilet in each cabin is equipped with a heated wall to help guests in drying wet towels, parkas, and their other cold weather gear in between expeditions. Each cabin also comes with its own coffee machine and a mini bar with cold drinks. There are six accommodation classes in all.

Other onboard facilities include three restaurants, a bar, a large multi-functional lecture lounge that is designed to be operated as an additional bar during nighttime, a study centre, a spa area, two saunas, a pool, a sun deck with a flexible canopy, an open foredeck, and a fitness centre. There are large, wall-mounted LED screens in the lecture lounge and in the study centre. In the latter area, there are also multi-media reference materials that will allow guests to learn more about the various wildlife and landscapes that they will encounter during off-ship excursions.

The vessel has hangar space for 17 inflatable expedition boats as well as a desalination plant that can convert sea water into clean drinking water.

The vessel is powered by a diesel-electric propulsion system that also includes two Caterpillar-MaK 8M25E main engines that each produce 2,800 kW at 720 rpm to enable the vessel to reach a service speed of 12 knots and a maximum speed of 16 knots. Steering is via a pair of Kongsberg Promas rudder propellers. Lastly, a second set of 8M25E engines function as generators to supply power for the onboard electrical systems.

Hanseatic Spirit is scheduled to sail on its inaugural cruise this August. In addition to expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic regions, its future itineraries will include the Amazon and the Kamchatka peninsula in the Russian Far East.

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