By
Alex Smith |
Hurtigruten has named the world’s first hybrid cruise ship, Roald Amundsen, during a christening ceremony in Chiriguano Bay, Antarctica.
Roald Amundsen became the first cruise ship to be named in the continent, as godmother and polar explorer Karin Strand broke a chunk of ice against the ship’s bow. In doing so, she revived a ritual invented by explorer Roald Amundsen, the ship’s namesake.
“We want to use this first-ever Antarctica naming ceremony to pay our respects to our oceans, the environment and past and present explorers,” said Daniel Skjeldam, CEO of Hurtigruten.
Roald Amundsen uses large battery packs alongside low-emission engines, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20% compared to cruise ships of a similar size. A second hybrid expedition cruise ship, Fridtjof Nansen, will debut in April 2020.