The expedition ship HANSEATIC of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has set a new record for passenger ships in the Northeast Passage. Yesterday afternoon (August 26, 2014), the 122.8-metre-long ship reached the northernmost point at 85°, 40.7′ north and 135°, 39.6′ east. At this latitude, the HANSEATIC was just 480 kilometres from the North Pole.
Captain Thilo Natke comments: “Unusual ice conditions made this record possible. North of the New Siberian Islands in the Russian Arctic, there was a large ice-free zone stretching north through the Arctic Ocean, which we used for this spontaneous detour.” In temperatures of around zero degrees and a brisk north-easterly wind, the passengers took a Zodiac ride along the edge of the pack ice. This event was then celebrated in style with a party on deck.
The expedition through the Northeast Passage set off from Nome/Alaska on 12 August 2014 and will continue on to Severnaya Zemlya in the next few days. It will feature expeditionary landings followed by cruises through the Kara Sea, Novaya Zemlya, the Barents Sea, Murmansk (end of the Northeast Passage), Hammerfest/Norway and Bodö/Norway, where the expedition will come to an end on 10 September 2014.
The 5-star* HANSEATIC was built to provide intensive exploration in the most elegant surroundings for a maximum of 175 guests. The design of the ship – including the highest ice class for passenger ships (E4) – allows HANSEATIC to travel to destinations previously inaccessible to a cruise ship. Guests explore the world’s best-kept secrets in zodiacs (small motorized boats) with only 10-12 guests. On-board experts include a team of experienced scientists, expedition leaders and specialists who guide landings and offer guests the rare opportunity to observe plant and animal life up close. However, what makes these expedition adventures standout for guests is the security of knowing that highly experienced captains are guiding the vessels and have together already travelled to the Arctic and Antarctica more than 200 times.
* According to the Berlitz Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships 2014
SOURCE Landmark Travel