Damen Shiprepair Brest prepares Le Commandant Charcot for next Arctic adventure
- Date
- April 2026
- Ship name
- Le Commandant Charcot
- Ship type
- Sea Cruise
- Yard
- Damen Shiprepair Brest
- Tasks performed for this project
- Maintenance
On the night of 5 April, the state-of-the-art polar expedition cruise vessel Le Commandant Charcot arrived at Damen Shiprepair Brest for her five-year survey and upgrade work.
Ponant’s 150-metre-long vessel is designed for high-latitude polar expeditions in the Arctic and Antarctic. She features a PC2 hull able to break ice up to 2.5 metres thick. The vessel can host up to 270 passengers in highly comfortable accommodation.
Safe exploration
During her time at the Brest yard, Le Commandant Charcot underwent a range of works including blasting and painting of the hull. To enable her to withstand regular contact with ice, an Inerta coating was applied beneath the waterline.
To ensure the vessel’s capability to operate in remote regions, close attention was paid to checking and maintaining safety-critical systems and equipment. This included the vessel’s lifeboats, helicopter lifting platform and support systems for her sixteen Zodiac expedition boats.
Tailored maintenance for Arctic conditions
A further area of focus was Le Commandant Charcot’s propulsion equipment. The yard undertook a complete overhaul of her azipod thrusters, polishing of her ice-strengthened propellers and servicing of her bow thrusters – essential in ensuring the vessel’s ability to manoeuvre in icy waters.
Additional works included maintenance of the vessel’s stabilisers to ensure passenger comfort in rough seas, and maintenance of the LNG propulsion system.
Close client collaboration
Ronan Scolan, Commercial Manager at Damen Shiprepair Brest, says, “Arctic cruise vessels like Le Commandant Charcot operate in some of the harshest conditions on Earth. Taking care of such a ship requires a shipyard with the right facilities, craftsmanship and understanding of polar-class vessels. At Damen Shiprepair Brest, we combine deep technical expertise with a full lifecycle approach, working closely with our clients to ensure their vessels remain safe, efficient and ready for the next expedition.”
On completion of the project, Le Commandant Charcot departed the yard on April 30, bunkering LNG in the Port of Brest before sailing to Reykjavik to begin her next Arctic expedition.