Is a new player entering the luxury expedition cruise market?

Norwegian Kleven shipyard has been contracted to build a 60-passenger, 107-meter long vessel designed for what the yard calls “rough sea conditions.”

To be built by Kleven at Ulsteinvik in Norway, the yard did not reveal the contract price nor the shipowner.

According to a prepared statement, last year the design firm Marin Teknikk in Heroy, Norway, was asked to design a so-called expedition support vessel. The firm has a track record of designing offshore vessels for North Sea service.

Among the few details released, the vessel will have a helipad and swimming pool. Delivery is scheduled for 2014.