NEW YORK, NY, October 8, 2019 --- Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc., a global provider of expedition cruises and adventure travel experiences, and Ulstein Group, Norwegian shipbuilder and ship designer, celebrated the keel laying of Lindblad’s second polar new build at the CRIST shipyard in Gdynia, Poland. The occasion also served as the official naming ceremony of the vessel.
National Geographic Resolution was named to honor Captain James Cook, the legendary explorer who was the first to circumnavigate Antarctica, cross the Antarctic Circle, and the first European to reach Hawaii. While he captained several ships in his career, his favorite was the MS Resolution.
Scheduled for delivery in Q4 2021, she is sister ship to the National Geographic Endurance which will make her inaugural voyage in April 2020. The 126-guest Polar Class 5 National Geographic Resolution will feature Ulstein’s signature X-BOW®, a distinctive bow that provides fuel efficiency while significantly improving guest comfort in rough seas; and a very high ice class for access deep into Polar Regions. The ship’s expanded fuel and water tanks provide for extended operations in remote areas; while the zerospeed stabilizers will ensure stability, whether at zero speed or full steam ahead.
National Geographic Resolution will use the cleanest marine fuels available in each of the remote areas she operates. And in keeping with the line becoming a carbon neutral company beginning in 2019, she will be one of the first vessels in the industry that will use engines that exceed the world’s most stringent emissions control standards without requiring the use of hazardous chemical exhaust aftertreatment.
A highlight of the ceremony was the traditional laying of the commemorative silver coin, the Hawaii Sesquicentennial half dollar, struck in 1928 by the United States Bureau of the Mint in honor of the 150th anniversary of Captain James Cook's landing in Hawaii. The rare vintage coin is owned by Sven Lindblad and depicts Captain Cook on the obverse and a Hawaiian chieftain on the reverse.
Joining from the Lindblad team in Poland for the occasion was Nikolaos Doulis, Senior VP, New Buildings and Reed Ameel, New-Build Site Manager. Present for Ulstein was Kenneth Pettersen, Project Director and Jarle Åsemyr, manager hull department. Among the CRIST representatives was Marek Lewczuk, Project Manager.
About Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc.
Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. is an expedition travel company that works in partnership with National Geographic to inspire people to explore and care about the planet. The organizations work in tandem to produce innovative marine expedition programs and to promote conservation and sustainable tourism around the world. The partnership’s educationally oriented voyages allow guests to interact with and learn from leading scientists, naturalists and researchers while discovering stunning natural environments, above and below the sea, through state-of-the-art exploration tools. For more information visit us at www.expeditions.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest.
About Ulstein Group
ULSTEIN has 600 employees and is headquartered in Ulsteinvik, Norway. ULSTEIN delivers products and services within ship design, shipbuilding and equipment packages to the international market. In 2017, they celebrate their 100-year anniversary. Throughout a century they have created tomorrow’s solutions for sustainable marine operations together with their partners. Ulstein Verft has built over 300 vessels, and more than a hundred vessels from Ulstein Group are delivered with the characteristic XBOW®. For more information visit: www.ulstein.com.
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Images of the keel laying ceremony and renderings of the National Geographic Resolution
Contact: Patty Disken-Cahill, [email protected], 212-261-9081