Construction works on SH Diana are proceeding as planned, with over half of the block deliveries already in place and the four main engines and two fin stabilisers lifted onto the hull.

The newbuild's 4.6 MW hybrid propulsion system, featuring selective catalytic reduction, will be coupled with a 3.0 MW battery pack.

The GT 12,100, 125 m long polar expedition cruise vessel will have a PC6 ice-strengthened hull.

The 141 strong crew SH Diana will offer 96 staterooms and suites for 192 passengers. The Cyprus-based Swan Hellenic expects to add her to its fleet at the beginning of 2023.

"Newbuilding NB 518 is designed for extreme weather conditions, from the heavy ice of the polar regions to the heat and humidity of the tropics, respecting the sensitive ecosystems of the rare and extraordinary regions she will explore," Nicklas Forsström, Helsinki Shipard's SH Diana Project Manager, commented.

The first in the Vega-class, SH Minerva, has already been handed over, while her sister ship SH Vega is scheduled for delivery in spring 2022. The pair (PC5 ice-strengthened hull) is smaller than SH Diana: GT 10,500, offering room for 152 travellers across 76 cabins.

Photo: Swan Hellenic