Bureau Veritas embarks with Selar to certify its Pioneering Wind and Solar Powered Polar Expedition Vessel
Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV), a major global company in testing, inspection, and certification, is working with Selar, a cruise ship owner, to build a new kind of polar cruise ship. This new ship, called Captain Arctic, is designed to create almost no carbon pollution. It’s a unique project that brings together ship designer Cormoran/Ship-ST and the CNOI shipyard to make a sustainable, eco-friendly vessel for polar exploration.
This ship, now being built by CNOI, will be the first polar cruise ship with almost zero emissions. Captain Arctic will use natural power sources like wind and solar energy instead of regular fuel, making it much kinder to the environment. The ship is 230 feet long, featuring five strong sails designed by Cormoran/Ship-ST, as well as 20,000 square feet of solar panels. Together, these sails and solar panels let the ship move silently, without polluting the air. With this setup, Captain Arctic can reduce carbon emissions by up to 90% compared to normal cruise ships.
To ensure that this design is safe and works well, Bureau Veritas conducted a deep inspection of the ship’s rigid sail system. BV tested it to confirm it follows all safety and performance rules, including the BV NR206 rules for wind propulsion systems. In 2023, BV granted these sails an “Approval in Principle” (AiP), meaning they meet high standards and are ready for use.
Sophie Galvagnon, CEO and Co-founder of Selar, explained why they are creating this type of ship. She said, “The maritime industry creates around 3% of all global CO₂ emissions, so it’s urgent to make big changes, especially in growing areas like expedition cruises. At Selar, we aim to show that exploring nature can be done in a sustainable way, and it can be exciting too!”
This partnership between Bureau Veritas, Selar, Cormoran/Ship-ST, and CNOI marks a major step forward in green exploration. Captain Arctic is not just a ship—it’s a sign of hope for the future, showing that polar travel can be clean, quiet, and sustainable. This project may inspire other shipbuilders to focus on eco-friendly designs, setting new standards for low-carbon exploration.
