Quark Expeditions has taken delivery of its first owned newbuild, Ultramarine.

The 128-metre polar vessel will accommodate 199 guests and feature two twin-engine helicopters, two heliports and 20 Zodiacs.

The ship will also house a number of sustainability features including the Micro Auto Gasification System (MAGS), which converts waste into energy at the site that it’s generated, eliminating the environmental impact of waste transportation. 

The official handover of the ship took place in Split, Croatia at the Brodosplit shipyard on April 1.

President Andrew White said: “We [have] officially welcomed into our fleet a game-changing vessel that will soon become an unrivalled operational base for polar adventures.

“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: “This game-changing ship was delivered after more than five years of dedicated work and considerable financial resources.

“This commitment of time and money, especially during an industry-challenging pandemic, reflects our confidence in the future of polar travel and underscores our commitment to delivering life-changing polar experiences no one ever thought possible.”

Ultramarine brings Quark's total number of vessels to six.