New Roald Amundsen by Hurtigruten to Be Named in Antarctica

Hurtigruten says its new hybrid powered ship, Roald Amundsen, will be the first ship in history named in Antarctica.

The vessel, which uses sustainable technology such as battery packs and specially designed ice-strengthened hulls, completed its sea trial in February. Hurtigruten says the ship is custom built for some of the toughest waters on the planet. 

The naming of a vessel is typically celebrated with a bottle of champagne, but Roald Amundsen will be named with a chunk of ice in honor of its explorer heritage. The naming ceremony will commence in fall.

The Roald Amundsen naming ceremony will honor Roald Amundsen, an explorer who led the first expedition to navigate the Northwest Passage. He was also the first person to reach both the North and South Poles.

Roald Amundsen switched the traditional bottle of champagne for a chunk of ice when christening his notable expedition ship “Maud” in 1917. Before crushing the ice against its bow, he stated:

“It is not my intention to dishonor the glorious grape, but already now you shall get the taste of your real environment. For the ice you have been built, and in the ice, you shall stay most of your life, and in the ice, you shall solve your tasks.”

Hurtigruten and its upcoming godmother ship will use the same ritual when naming Roald Amundsen.

For more information, visit https://www.hurtigruten.com/

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