CRIST shipyard has begun steel cutting for the NB 316, a multifunctional passenger ship with an X-BOW hull.
Today's event is the first step in the construction of one of the most innovative passenger ships in the world - NB 316, the sister unit of NB 312 "National Geographic Endurance". Long at nearly 125, and a 20-meter-wide ship will be able to traverse in difficult polar conditions, while taking on board more than 100 passengers in luxury conditions.
The unit will be equipped with a X-BOW hul known so far from units intended for the offshore industry. The use of this solution in the passenger ship will reduce the impact of waves on the hull, which will increase the comfort of travel and will lead to a significant reduction in noise and vibration. The shape and closed nature of X-BOW is also intended to minimize the risk of wave splashing. The ship will be able to operate faster and more efficiently in adverse conditions at sea, with less time spent traveling through the most dangerous sea areas. Importantly, thanks to the patented X-BOW hull, the unit will have a much smaller impact on the environment, while reducing daily operational costs.
The partly outfited unit will be built at the CRIST shipyard, and the finishing works will be carried out at the Ulstein Verft, a Norwegian shipyard. The final recipient of the ship is Lindblad Expeditions. The finished unit will start its work in 2021.
