Ponant's Le Commandant Charcot undergoing outfitting at Vard Søviknes

Hybrid electric/LNG-powered

This hybrid electric polar exploration vessel, to be fueled by LNG, is due for delivery to Ponant in April 2021.

Le Commandant Charcot was towed from Eastern Europe to Norway in a monthlong voyage. On the way, it rendezvoused in the Gibraltar Strait with Ponant's L'Austral, Le Boréal and Le Lyrial as they headed to Marseille for layup during the current suspension of cruise operations.

Ability to sail in extreme polar regions

Designed as a PC2 polar-class ship, Le Commandant Charcot will be able to sail in extreme polar regions with minimal environmental impact.

Available for scientific research

Ponant also intends to make Le Commandant Charcot available to the scientific community. It will be fitted with laboratories, equipment and dedicated staterooms for researchers to offer a platform for polar observation, research and analysis.

Destinations will include the true geographic North Pole and areas in Antarctica where fewer people have traveled than to the moon.