Discovery Deluxe - PONANT names his new expedition vessels after famous French explorers

PONANT strengthen its French heritage by naming the new expedition vessels after famous explorers.
by Earl of Cruise

Famous French explorers are choosen by PONANT to name the new expedition vessels, and to stress out the French character of the luxury expedition company and their ships. The quartet will inaugurate in the years 2018 till 2019.

Rendering courtesy by STERLING DESIGN and PONANT

The names are - LE LAPÉROUSE, LE CHAMPLAIN, LE BOUGAINVILLE and LE KERGUELEN.

courtesy by PONANT

You may ask why they use at first "LE"?

As all vessels in France, so in French, are male. Any French ship should be adressed as "he the ..." or "der ...", etc. But that would be a tautology in this case, as the given names are selfexplaning with the article "LE" and so the sex.

And then, why such "unpronaucable" names?

At first not for those who speak `la langue française´ - the French language (translate google may help with its sound function, learn pronouncing the names correct). Second it is a "high five" for the French identity they are representing. Third, it is a pleasure, and a Unique Selling Proposition (USP) amoung all these Americanised name schemes. And fourth, these explorers had been prime explorers, none of them less than Cook.

Le Lapérouse, Le Champlain, Le Bougainville and Le Kerguelen, rendering courtesy by STERLING DESIGN and PONANT

With the naming, so PONANT, they would underscore the loyalty of the shipping company to the French flag. All PONANT cruise ships flying the French flag with registration in Mata Utu in the French overseas territory of Wallis and Futuna in the South Seas. This registration is guaranteeing further the highest environmental, safeguards and labor standards.

The stern of the new expedition cruisers Le Lapérouse, Le Champlain, Le Bougainville and Le Kerguelen, with the new type of marina - rendering courtesy by STERLING DESIGN and PONANT

The four new expedition ships of explorer class with 92 cabins - 88 balcony cabins and four suites, 180 passengers (184 max). and 110 crew and a length of 131 x 18 meters kept relatively small (~ 10,000 GT) to sail in not yet been approached, even more difficult attainable destinations so PONANT. The ships have the "Cleanship" seal of Bureau Veritas and will be among the most environmentally friendly cruise ships on the market.

- Dynamic Positioning System

- Hybrid motors

- MDO (Marine Diesel Oil)

- state of the art waste management system

- energy saving light system

- FarSounder Sonar, which is able to create in 3D the maritime bottom

Rendering courtesy by STERLING DESIGN and PONANT

The four sister ships will be constructed at the VARD YARD GROUP in Norway, which is partly owned by the FINCANTIERI Group and Norwegian interests.

The four ships of the Explorer class include among others an infinity pool and a variable Marina. This yacht style marina is functioning as sun deck, mini port and water sports and swimming plattform. The idea is created by PONANT. The design is done by STIRLING DESIGN, Nantes.

With the four new buildings PONANT doubles the fleet. Currently PONANT is offering the luxury yachtstyl expedition ships LE BOREAL, L'AUSTRAL, LE SOLÈAL and LE LYRIAL that were put into service between 2010 and 2015. The oldest ship is sailing vessel LE PONANT, 1991, for 64 passengers.

The expedition cruisers accomodate 264 passengers in 132 cabins and suites, have 140 crew and a length of 140 meters. They are measuring 10,700 GT (LE BOREAL) and 10,944 GT.

PONANT was founded in April 1988 as COMPAGNIE DES ÎLES DU PONANT by Philippe Videau, Jean-Emmanuel Sauvé, and other officers of the French Merchant Navy and launched the first French cruise ship. The company operates presently four ships, all of which operate under the French flag. Initially based for 18 years in Nantes. The company headquarters was moved in 2006 to Marseille following its acquisition in 2004 by CMA CGM. The name was changed to LA COMPAGNIE DU PONANT in 2009. In 2012, CMA CGM sold PONANT to BRIDGEPOINT CAPITAL. 2015 ARTÉMIS, the privat holding of the Pinault family finances, purchased the company from Bridgepoint. The directors are Jean-Emmanuel Sauvée and Véronique Saadé, which is the daughter of the president of CMA CGM.

The interior of the whole fleet, except LE PONANT, is offering a "laid back" new French Mediterranean design, which can be described as "Cote d´Azurian". The design takes form speeches of custom build private yachts as well as it developed the Lounge Style into a new form with a French touch.

The same is for the cuisine on board - French, with an international touch. Ducasse Conseil is responsible for the Food&Beverage onboard the PONANAT fleet. And on demand, especially for the charterer TAUK and its clientele, it is American ...

The new vessels will the guests amneties which may be only found on super yachts or those for charter.

PONANT website