Hurtigruten, which operates expedition cruises and a coastal express service between Bergen and Kirkenes along the west coast of Norway, has signed a letter of intent to build up to four expedition cruise ships at the Kleven shipyard at Ulsteinvik in Norway.
The first vessel is due to enter service in 2018 and the contract is the largest investment in the 120 year history of the company, The ships are designed by Rolls Royce, with assistance by Espen Oino, a Norwegian naval architect.
This is the first newbuilding contract for more than a decade Hurtigruten has placed in the expedition cruise sector, although it converted a former Portuguese ferry into an expedition cruise liner last year.
The new ships will employ environmentally friendly technology and they can also be used in the coastal express service, Hurtigruten said in a statement.
