New Zealand’s Heritage Expeditions acquires former Hanseatic

The 1A Super ice class ship, originally named Society Adventurer, was built in 1991 at Finland’s Rauma shipyard for Society Expeditions, the US-based subsidiary of Germany’s Discoverer Reederei. 

Hanseatic

She was purchased by Hanseatic Tours, which merged with Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, and was later chartered to Canada’s One Ocean Expeditions when she briefly sailed as Resolute.

The owner and technical manager (deck and engine) is Nordic Hamburg Shipmanagement.

Pre-sailing overhaul

‘Over the coming months we will be working closely with the owners to coordinate an overhaul and refurbishment in preparation for Heritage Adventurer joining our fleet,’ Nathan Russ, a co-director of Heritage Expeditions, said. 

Originally designed to accommodate 184 passengers, the new flagship for Heritage Expeditions is intended to operate with a maximum 140 expeditioners for a spacious, comfortable on-board experience.

Heading for the Ross Sea

The 124-metre ship has 14 Zodiacs and will commence operations in the Russian Far East, including Wrangel Island, before venturing southwards through the South Pacific to New Zealand, the sub-Antarctic islands and down into the heart of Antarctica to the Ross Sea.