Lindblad Expeditions and Ulstein recently celebrated the keel laying of the cruise line’s second polar newbuild under construction at CRIST Shipyard in Gdynia Poland. The occasion also served as an official naming ceremony of the ship.
The name of National Geographic Resolution honors Captain James Cook - the legendary British explorer and the first to circumnavigate Antarctica, cross the Antarctic Circle, as well as the first European to reach Hawaii. While Cook captained several vessels, his favorite one was HMS Resolution.
Due to be delivered in 2021-Q4, National Geographic Resolution is sistership to National Geographic Endurance which is scheduled to make her inaugural cruise in April 2020.
The 126-passenger Polar Class 5 National Geographic Resolution features Ulstein’s signature X-BOW, a distinctive bow providing fuel efficiency while significantly improving passenger comfort in rough seas; along with a very high ice class for access into Polar Regions. The expanded fuel and water tanks provide extended operations in remote areas. The zero-speed stabilizers ensure stability, whether at full steam ahead or at zero speed.
A highlight of the official ceremony was the traditional laying of a commemorative silver coin, Hawaii Sesquicentennial half dollar, struck in 1928 by the US Bureau of the Mint in honor of the 150th anniversary of Capt. James Cook’s landing in Hawaii.