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Debut of Oceanwide Expeditions' Janssonius delayed further

PHOTO: Oceanwide Expeditions CRUISE_Janssonius.jpeg
Oceanwide Expeditions had hoped to operate Janssonius in Antarctica in 2021, and in 2022, but the ship remains unfinished at Brodosplit
Delivery of Oceanwide Expeditions' Polar Class 6 newbuild Janssonius, originally scheduled to be handed over by builder Brodosplit last October, and subsequently delayed into 2022, has slipped again.

Launched at the Croatian shipyard in March 2021, the 170-passenger expedition ship was due to begin its first Antarctica season last November.  At that time the impact of the pandemic was cited by Brodosplit as slowing the delivery but the shipyard, a member of the DIV Group, secured access to a €60m loan from VTB Europe, a Russian-owned bank in Frankfurt, to continue the financing of two newbuild projects, including Janssonius.

Sanctions and geopolitical events

However, as a result of sanctions due to the war in Ukraine, the bank was subject to restrictions and earlier this year, the builder was prevented from all further placements on credit lines, said Josip Jurišić, head of PR at the Croatian yard.

Franklin Braeckman, marketing & sales manager Oceanwide Expeditions told Seatrade Cruise, 'A mix of sanctions and geopolitical events have led to supply chain delays and financial constraints at Jassonius' builder in Croatia. 

'Despite our best efforts to navigate these issues with the appropriate political and financial authorities, delays for the delivery date of Janssonius were unavoidable. This will have an impact on the departures for the upcoming Antarctic season,' he remarked.

All affected passengers have been notified and offered various alternatives, ranging from rebooking on similar voyages on board of our other vessels, a later departure date, to a refund of their advance payment, he confirmed.

Business as usual for rest of Oceanwide fleet

None of this impacts Oceanwide's other expedition ships, Plancius, Ortelius and Hondius. All Antarctic departures on those vessels are still secure, he confirmed.

Oceanwide reported it is working hard with the shipyard to find a solution and to be able to offer voyages to the polar regions with Janssonius 'as soon as possible.'