SH Vega, the second ship of Cyprus based expedition cruise operator Swan Hellenic has sailed from Tromsø, Norway, on its first cruise of the Arctic, an 11-day exploration of the Svalbard Archipelago. This follows a delivery voyage from Finland via Copenhagen in Denmark

SH Vega that was built by the Helsinki Shipyard in Finland features a 5-megawatt diesel-electric propulsion system with selective catalytic reduction and a PC5 ice-strengthened hull with extra-large stabilisers for exceptional passenger comfort. At 113 m, the 10,600-ton vessel has been specially designed to visit the most inspiring and inaccessible places on the planet, the comps ny said in a statement

SH Vega, like her twin sister SH Minerva, has been designed to meet the latest environmental regulations and is completely self-sufficient for up to 40 days or 8,000 nautical miles. “Preparations have been made to implement battery technology which would also make it possible to operate silently. The vessels are equipped with exhaust gas cleaning, advanced wastewater treatment systems and the waste storage facilities required for operating in sensitive polar areas,” Swan Hellenic said.