French luxury expedition line Ponant said its ice-hardened
polar vessel due in 2021 will be named for a renowned French polar explorer.
Captain Jean-Baptiste Charcot made several Arctic and
Antarctic voyages of discovery between 1902 and 1909.
Le Commandant Charcot will have the strongest hull of any of
Ponant's ships and is designed mainly to sail in polar waters.
The 270-passenger ship will be fueled by liquefied natural
gas. An energy-optimization system with electric batteries will allow the ship
to stop its engines for two to three hours. The ship will have an advanced
wastewater treatment system, Ponant said.
Pre-bookings on Le Commandant Charcot at early bird prices are
available now. Full-fare bookings will begin on April 11, 2019.