THE GROWTH SEGMENT of expedition cruising, particularly in sensitive areas such as the Arctic and Antarctic, faces high environmental demands from passengers as much as from regulations. According to a recent Trigger survey, 34% of passengers cared about environmental performance in 2015, rising to 67% just a year later. That perception, as well as the fuel consumption benefits that an energy efficiency focus brings, informed the design, equipment and power concept for the 20,899gt, 520 passenger vessel Roald Amundsen and sister vessel Fridtjof Nansen. The vessels are under construction to a Rolls-Royce design at Kleven yard, with the first due for delivery in time for the start of the cruise season in April 2018 -well ahead of Its first scheduled cruise departing from Valparaiso in October 2018. The second ship will be delivered a year later, with options on a third and fourth vessel to be taken later this year. If pursued, their delivery will be pencilled in for 2020 and 2021. The total construction cost of the vessels is NOK1.3 billion each, with the Rolls-Royce design, engine and equipment package for both ships valued at a combined NOK600 million.
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