Wärtsilä to design luxury expedition ships for new Amundsen Expeditions cruise line

Wärtsilä said it has worked with Amundsen Expeditions to develop a concept design and that the design agreement was signed in Q3 2019. The ships will be owned and operated by Amundsen Expeditions, and are targeted primarily at the Chinese market.

Amundsen Expeditions Captain Rajko Zupan, who has been actively involved in the ship’s design since the inception of the project, said the vessels are highly complex and require advanced design expertise.

"The cruise ships will feature all outside guest cabins, presidential suites, winter gardens and the latest environmental equipment," he said.

The vessels will also be designed and fitted with a suite of Wärtsilä products, including W32 engines, selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems for the abatement of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, electric propulsion, the Nacos Platinum bridge system for navigation and communications, and automation systems. The supply package is likely to be supported by a 10-year maintenance agreement, Wärtsilä said.

Wärtsilä Marine cruise business general manager Maikel Arts said the integrated design means the onboard systems work together to provide reliability and efficiency with regard to cost and time considerations.

"Our one-stop-shop capability, which allows the ship design to be combined with a complete package of onboard solutions, enables a truly integrated design," he said.

Wärtsilä said special attention will be paid to ensuring operational reliability due to the harsh environments and remote locations in which the ships will operate. The ships will be designed to accommodate operations in both tropical and polar waters.