As of 2021, Hurtigruten Expeditions has been around for 125 years, and to mark the milestone anniversary, the brand will name its latest Fridtjof Nansen ship on Sept. 14 in Longyearbyen (the vessel’s port of registry) in Svalbard, Norway — considered by the line to be the birthplace of expedition cruising.
“When looking for a location for the naming of Fridtjof Nansen, we couldn’t think of a better place than Svalbard,” said Asta Lassesen, CEO of Hurtigruten Expeditions, in a press release. “For expedition cruising, this is where it all began.”
Hurtigruten points out that in the late 1800s, expeditions were largely the work of scientific explorers. But in 1896, Hurtigruten Group founder Richard With recognized an opportunity to offer small-ship passenger cruises bolstered by local knowhow.
“For us, Svalbard/Spitsbergen is much more than just a destination; it’s a part of our history,” Lassesen said. “As history has told us, we need to work closely with local communities when we develop sustainable tourism for future generations of explorers. When we embark on our Svalbard expeditions, we combine our 125 years of experience with our year-round, land-based presence, creating jobs and value for the local community that lasts way beyond our cruise calls.”
As such, Fridtjof Nansen — named after the Norwegian-born polar explorer and humanitarian — will be another in Hurtigruten’s series of environmentally friendly hybrid electric expedition ships.
As history has told us, we need to work closely with local communities when we develop sustainable tourism for future generations of explorers.
“Fridtjof Nansen is the epitome of more than 125 years of exploration heritage,” Lassesen said. “Her small size, combined with strengthened hull and green technology, makes her able to explore waters where few other ships can go.”
Lassesen added that every cruise will host scientists onboard and feature the namesake Nansen Science Center as the center of exploration, where guests and crew can all come together.
Instead of christening the ship with champagne, a chunk of ice will be broken on its bow, as was done at the ceremony for sister ship Roald Amundsen in 2019.
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