The technologically advanced vessel was contracted with the American company Quark Expeditions, a part of the Travelopia Group. Quark Expeditions specialises in expeditions to the Antarctic and the Arctic.
"The Ultramarine is 128 meters long and 21.5 meters wide and will be able to accommodate up to 200 passengers who will be cared for by 140 crew members in 103 luxuriously decorated cabins and public spaces and will have an incredible range of adventure options," Brodosplit said in a press release.
"The two H145 helicopters, operated from two heliports, will allow more passengers to simultaneously experience new destinations accessible only by air, and to enjoy more unique aerial perspectives of the Polar Regions than on any other ship. The 20 quick-launching Zodiacs at four embarkation points mean the expedition team can load and embark Zodiacs faster, safer, and easier than ever before."
The total value of the ship is over €100 million, with 70% of the domestic component. The loan for the construction was provided by the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR), and Brodosplit said the ship would not have been built without the government's decision on 16 May 2018 to provide a guarantee.
Immediately after the delivery, the client repaid the HBOR the full €87.9 million loan and the guarantee was returned to the government, "which supported this project and enabled the financing of the construction" in the amount of €68.1 million, Brodosplit said, adding that €724,000 would be paid into the state budget as guarantee fee.
With this ship, said Brodosplit CEO Tomislav Debeljak, "we have demonstrated the possibilities of Croatian shipbuilding, the possibilities of Brodosplit, which is growing to be the leader of European builders of polar cruise ships, to the demanding world market."
"Today, we took ownership of more than a new ship. We officially welcomed into our fleet a game-changing vessel that will soon become an unrivaled operational base for polar adventures," said Quark Expeditions President Andrew White.
"Every aspect of Ultramarine has been designed and engineered to enable our teams to get guests off the ship and deep into the polar wilderness better than ever before. This new vessel, in the hands of the most experienced team in the expedition industry, will allow us to create truly immersive off-ship adventures for our guests while providing them with a superior onboard experience," he added.