By
Alex Smith |
United Waterways and its ocean division Ocean Advice have outlined their collaboration with Poseidon Expeditions on the development of the first vessel in a white-label expedition shipbuilding programme.
The partnership follows the previously announced development of a series of eight expedition and coastal cruise vessels. Poseidon Expeditions will provide advice on how an expedition vessel needs to perform in remote regions, covering operational workflows, expedition logistics, guest movement and onboard functionality. This knowledge will be incorporated into the vessel concept alongside the naval architecture, technical, nautical and hospitality expertise provided by Ocean Advice and United Waterways.
“Poseidon was the ideal partner for the first vessel because it brings genuine, long-standing polar expertise to the development process,” said Dr Sascha Gill, CEO of United Waterways. “This is exactly what our white-label model is designed to achieve. Every travel brand serves a different market, has a unique guest profile and requires a different onboard experience. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all product, we develop vessels around the specific needs of experienced operators and their customers. With eight vessels planned in this programme, our goal is to combine the efficiency of a proven maritime framework with the individuality each partner needs to differentiate itself in the market.”
“While vessels in the series are built on the same high operational and regulatory standards, the guest experience should never be generic,” said Mathias Kracht, managing director of Ocean Advice. “Poseidon came to the project with a very clear vision of its market and expedition philosophy. That vision helps shape a vessel that is distinctly Poseidon. What guests expect from an expedition brand can differ considerably from one source market to another, and that is precisely why the white-label approach works so well. We have seen this successfully in river cruising and believe the same model creates tremendous value for ocean operators.”
The first vessel in the programme is currently under development, with further updates will be shared as the project progresses.