Work is underway to build the Captain Arctic, a groundbreaking cruise ship designed for sustainable luxury expeditions in the Arctic. The vessel's keel laying ceremony on November 22 marked the beginning of its construction, with the 70-meter (230-foot) hull being built in the UAE by Goltens.
The ship concept was created by Sophie Galvagnon, a commercial shipping industry veteran with nearly 20 years of experience. Having led Arctic expeditions for over a decade, Galvagnon aims to return the focus to the traditional aspects of expedition cruising, moving away from recent trends prioritizing luxury amenities like submarines and helicopters.
Over the past two years, Galvagnon and her team have worked on the innovative ship design, launching the French company Selar to fund the project. Captain Arctic promises a new approach to sustainable tourism, offering accommodations for just 36 passengers and a crew of 24, with no set itineraries. Passengers will experience unique Arctic adventures, including encounters with polar bears, ice navigation, and kayaking through icebergs.
The ship will be powered by five retractable 35-meter-high solar sails, generating energy from 2,000 square meters of solar panels. Additional power will come from biofuel made from vegetable oil, but the ship aims to operate mainly on solar and sail power. The eco-friendly features extend to heating, which will come from a pellet boiler using recycled wooden waste.
Beyond tourism, Captain Arctic will support scientific efforts with zero-emission logistics and will eliminate over five tons of plastic annually. The project, a collaboration between Goltens and Chantier Naval de l'Ocean Indien, is expected to reduce emissions by 90%.
Scheduled to debut in November 2026, Captain Arctic will begin its inaugural voyage from Tromsø, Norway.