“Fram”, new level of expedition cruise After a decade of exploring some of the most spectacular waters on our planet, Hurtigruten’s MS Fram will receive a total makeover and reemerge as a brand-new expedition ship. Hurtigruten, the world’s largest expedition cruise company, is a traditional Norwegian cruise line. Since 1893 it is active in the mailboat service along the Norwegian fjord coast. They always focus on sustainability, that's why the ships all sail with sustainable fuel and they don't want to pollute the environment in which they sail. Rubbish collecting is only one of the interesting shore excursions. Another great thing about a Hurtigruten cruise is the opportunity to explore and learn about the chosen sailing in depth and as Hurtigruten themselves claims ‘Mother Nature provides the entertainment’. A contract was signed on 9 September 2005 between the Hurtigruten Group and former OVDS ASA and the Fincantieri shipyard to build the ship. Construction started in March 2006, with the keel laying completed in August 2006. The MS Fram was floated for the first time in November 2006, followed by test sailings in February 2007. MS Fram was designed with one mission in mind, to bring her guests closer to wildlife, nature and unforgettable experiences. Named to honor one of the most popular explorer ships in the history of expedition cruising, sailing from 1893 to 1912, items of the original Fram are also be displayed throughout the vessel, linking the present MS Fram with the rich history of its illustrious past. The great explorers Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen were pioneers in Arctic- and Antarctic expeditions and contributed to the conception of a vessel cruising oceans under extreme conditions. The name Fram means ‘forward’, lifting expectations of the voyage at hand. The new Fram brings on the heritage of the original Fram, using the most advanced technology to make her exceptionally well suited for expedition voyages in Polar Regions. Its interior has been inspired by Greenland and the Arctic region. She remains true to the original spirit of this great sailing legend. MS Fram is a purpose-built 11,600- ton vessel that incorporates all the best of both practical and traditional design. With a total capacity of only 378 guests, the ship has the perfect size to reach unique and
distant destinations which are rarely accessible for most ships. It is an expedition vessel with a higher iceclass, chart drawing tools, ship depth sounding database, extractable forward sounding sonar, iceberg
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