Hurtigruten Holds Ship Naming Event in Antarctica
Hurtigruten held the first-ever cruise ship naming event at the bottom of the world in Antarctica for their new expedition ship, MS Roald Amundsen.
Hurtigruten, a leader in expedition cruising, could not have chosen a more appropriate place to introduce the ship named for famed Norwegian polar explorer, Roald Amundsen.
A truly unique naming ceremony
The naming ceremony was officiated by Karin Strand, also a polar explorer and now godmother to MS Roald Amundsen. Instead of the traditional bottle of champagne smashed against the ship’s bow at the christening, Strand returned to an older practice that explorer Roald Amundsen created; smashing a chunk of ice against the ship’s bow.
“We could not think of a better location than Antarctica to name MS Roald Amundsen,” said Daniel Skjeldam, chief executive officer of Hurtigruten. “I believe Roald Amundsen would be proud. With the ship carrying his name and legacy, Hurtigruten is redefining boundaries, challenging the industry, and continuing to push toward greener and more sustainable operations. As Roald Amundsen was the symbol of a new era of exploration, this ship is the symbol of a new era in the cruise industry.”
- Take a look at the view from the Roald Amundsen live webcam!
To support conservation efforts in the more than 200 destinations that Hurtigruten’s ship visit, a donation was made to the Hurtigruten Foundation in recognition of the naming of their new ship.
READ NEXT: Hurtigruten Confirms a Third Hybrid Expedition Ship
MS Roald Amundsen sets two “firsts”
As the world’s first hybrid electric-powered expedition ship, she will travel the world with the use of large battery packs that support the low-emission engines. The result is a reduction in CO2 emissions by over 20 percent.
This past summer, MS Roald Amundsen entered the history books when the ship became the first-ever cruise ship to sail on battery power. Another historic first was scored as the ship became the only electric-hybrid ship to traverse the Northwest Passage.
After the 2019-20 season cruising Antarctica, MS Roald Amundsen will journey north and spend the 2020 summer season in Alaska. A second hybrid electric-powered expedition ship, MS Fridtjof Nansen, will join the fleet in 2020.
