Quark Expeditions celebrated the steel-cutting of its new expedition ship at Brodosplit today, ahead of a 2020 launch.

The ceremony took place at the shipyard and museum of Brodosplit, and was attended by senior executives from both companies, including President of Quark Expeditions Andrew White, CEO of DIV Group Tomislav Debeljak and CEO of Brodosplit Zoran Kunkera.

“Every aspect of the ship has been built with one thing in mind: continuing to redefine what is possible in polar adventure,” said White. “We’ve created a ship unsurpassed in its class not only by partnering with industry leaders like Brodosplit and LMG Marin, who are as committed as we are to pushing the boundaries, but also by consulting with our own polar experts and Expedition Leaders, who know better than anyone else what guests want out of their polar experience.”

The ship will be 13,500 tons at 128 meters and with a beam of 21.5 meters, with capacity for 200 guests.

“This ship will be more than just a ship,” added White. “It will be an unrivalled operational base for polar adventures. Our guests travel with Quark to maximize their expedition experience, push their boundaries and revel in the magic of the polar regions. With this new ship, in the hands of the most experienced expedition team in the industry, we will get our guests further into the polar regions, seeing and doing more of what the they have to offer, in a vessel of exceptional comfort.”

Featuring an interior zodiac hangar and four embarkation points, dual helicopters with simultaneously operable helidecks, a best-in-class 70-day operational range, the vessel will help Quark Expeditions deliver the thrill of polar adventure in new and unmatched ways while ensuring its guests’ comfort, enjoyment and safety, the company said, in a statement. 

Passengers will benefit from eleven different cabin styles, modern spa and fitness facilities, indoor and outdoor dining options, and a rapid zodiac and helicopter deployment system that allows for safe and efficient movement on and off the ship.

The new vessel will go on sale in spring 2019, with the launch of its inaugural Antarctic 2020-2021 season.

“We are proud of our long list of firsts, like the first commercial passenger circumnavigation of Antarctica,” said White. “We designed this ship to keep adding to those firsts in what we consider the most breathtaking places on our planet. It is our combination of institutional knowledge and technological innovation that makes a design like this possible. The polar regions are both spectacular and unforgiving. Our new ship will take people there safely and comfortably while giving them experiences to cherish forever and allowing them to appreciate the purity and majesty of nature without disturbing it.”