Le Commandant Charcot Completes Drydock Ahead of Arctic Season
Built in 2021, the liquefied natural gas-powered icebreaker departed Brest for Iceland on April 30 after overhauls of its helicopter platform and Zodiac systems.
Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot has completed a drydock at Damen Shiprepair Brest in France, where the work scope covered hull treatment, propulsion maintenance and safety systems needed for polar operations. Damen said the 2021-built, LNG-powered icebreaker departed Brest for Iceland on April 30 after the yard period.
The project centered on the vessel’s Arctic operating profile, including ice-contact surfaces, thruster equipment, helicopter and Zodiac support systems, and safety-critical equipment for remote-region deployment. Damen said the work prepared the ship for Ponant’s upcoming Arctic expedition season.
Hull and propulsion work focused on ice operations
The hull work included blasting and painting, followed by application of a new coating intended to tolerate regular contact with ice. Le Commandant Charcot has a PC2 hull, an ice rating intended for year-round operation in moderate multi-year ice conditions.
The propulsion package included maintenance on the ship’s LNG propulsion system, stabilizers, Azipod thrusters and bow thrusters. Damen also polished the vessel’s ice-strengthened propellers.
Safety and expedition-support work included overhauls of the lifeboats, helicopter platform and systems used to support Zodiac operations. Damen said those checks were part of the shipyard’s focus on keeping the vessel ready for remote operating areas.
“Arctic cruise vessels like Le Commandant Charcot operate in some of the harshest conditions on Earth,” said Ronan Scolan, commercial manager at Damen Shiprepair Brest. “Taking care of such a ship requires a shipyard with the right facilities, craftsmanship and understanding of polar-class vessels.”
A PC2 polar expedition ship
Le Commandant Charcot is a 31,757-GT polar expedition cruise ship measuring about 150 meters in length, with 135 balcony cabins and capacity for roughly 245 to 270 passengers depending on configuration. The ship uses hybrid-electric propulsion with LNG dual-fuel engines and ABB Azipod units.
The ship’s PC2 classification places it near the top of the Polar Class scale, below PC1. Le Commandant Charcot is designed to operate in demanding ice conditions, including navigation through ice up to about 2.5 meters thick and sea-ice ridges exceeding 10 meters.
