Vard, Ponant ink letter of intent for construction of four expedition cruise vessels

Each will be designed to accommodate 180 passengers.

Vard has inked a letter of intent for the construction of four luxury expedition cruise vessels for French cruise company Ponant.

According to the company’s news release, the new series of vessels will be developed by Vard, Ponant, and Fincantieri.

The vessels are designed for trips to remote ports accessible only to small capacity ships. The ships will be about 10,000 gross tons, about 128 metres long, 18 metres wide, and will have a cruise speed of 15 knots. Each vessel will be designed to hold 180 passengers (92 cabins) and a crew of 110.

Delivery is scheduled from Vard in Norway in summer 2018 to summer 2019. The partners have a common intention to enter into contracts in the second quarter of 2016, subject to several conditions being met, including satisfactory financing.