Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ 4-star expedition cruise ship, the 155-passenger MS Bremen has become one of the first passenger ships in the world to receive the Polar Ship Certificate, which will be mandatory for ships operating in the polar regions. Note: The Polar Ship Certificate will be mandatory for all ships operating in polar water, starting from January 2018 (the first such ship to receive this certificate was a Russian Arctic tanker).
MS Bremen received the certificate after a two-year long renovation where technical modifications were made in order for them to meet the new requirements. Updates included fire lines on deck being fitted with additional insulation and the installation of an additional ice spotlight. Extra equipment to ensure the survival of passengers and crew members in potential emergencies in the polar regions such as medication for hypothermia, frostbite and sunburn, as well as new Personal Survival Equipment (PSE) and Group Survival Equipment (GSE) supplies, which contain tents, sleeping bags and emergency food.
MS Hanseatic, MS Europa, and MS Europa 2 — all of Hapag-Lloyd’s ships operating in polar waters — are due to meet the requirements of the Polar Code by the Arctic season in 2018.
MS Bremen will be operating numerous international cruises during the 2018/2019 season, including sailings to the North East Passage, Iceland and Norway, Alaska and Japan, and the southern tip of Argentina and Antarctica. For those that prefer the warmer weather, MS Bremen will be sailing several tropical voyages, including stops in Fiji, Tahiti, Koror as well as Atlantic Ocean voyages that call at Tenerife, Belém and São Miguel Island.
The expedition ship has 80 outside cabins and two suites (193 square feet and 258 square feet). Good to know: Suites include bathtubs, the only accommodations onboard to have them, and rooms on Decks 6 and 7 have balconies; recommend these to your VIPs.
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