Paul Gauguin fleet will triple in 2022

Paul Gauguin Cruises will see the addition of two more ships to its fleet in 2022, following the signing of a 300 million euro memorandum of agreement between parent company PONANT and shipbuilder Fincantieri.

The agreement will see the shipbuilder design and construct two new-generation luxury expedition cruise vessels, with an option for a third sister ship. The finalization of the contract is subject to the fulfilment of technical and financial conditions. Currently, Paul Gauguin - which was acquired by PONANT this fall - operates one eponymous ship in the South Pacific.

READ MORE: PONANT announces plan to purchase Paul Gauguin

The new ships will represent an evolution of the PONANT Explorers class vessels and will be about 11,000 gross tons with the capacity to accommodate about 230 passengers on board, Fincantieri said.

They will be equipped with cutting-edge technology in terms of environment and population protection, featuring the most extensive battery package application in the market, allowing smokeless operation at anchor, in ports and in environmentally-sensitive areas.

Fincantieri has already built four ships for PONANT - Le Boréal, L'Austral, Le Soléal, and Le Lyrial - delivered respectively in 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2015.

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