Hanse Explorer is a true expedition yacht in every sense. Built with the highest ice class (1A Super), she is a true go-anywhere yacht, and routinely travels through dense multi-year pack ice. She is equally at home in the remote atolls of the Pacific, where her first rate dive set up allows for true off-grid exploring and generous open deck space is the perfect setting for sunset cocktails.
For those looking to be truly immersed in a destination, Hanse is the perfect choice. Her two longtime captains have worked on the ship for over 10 years, and an expedition guide is standard on every charter. She has a level of expedition expertise and capability that no other expedition yacht has, with a true expedition spirit that permeates everything on board.
Since her launch in 2006, Hanse Explorer has represented the utmost in quality and safety in expedition yachting with superior construction. The original owner, the founder of a large European shipping company, had a vision for a yacht-sized ship seaworthy enough to travel anywhere in the world. He commissioned the well-known German shipbuilder, Fassmer Werft, to build his vision.
Hanse Explorer more than comfortably accommodates up to 12 people in 7 cabins (plus extra crew space for an expedition leader and a dive master). She boasts all the luxuries of a first-class yacht, but her casual, expedition-oriented style will leave you feeling like you’re in the comfort of your own living room. The bar and lounge offer panoramic views and are the heart of the ship’s guest area. Spacious interiors and a cozy atmosphere make for relaxed travels as you float by magnificent scenery. The unseen details such as retractable zero speed fin stabilizers (which reduces the ship’s movements at sea and at anchor but still allow navigation in dense ice), and the heating system, which is equipped with a steam humidifier, greatly increase guests’ level of comfort. After a day of exploring the Arctic, there’s nothing like warming up and rejuvenating in the deluxe Finnish sauna or the Jacuzzi on the top deck. Hanse Explorer finds the perfect balance between adventure and relaxation.
Built for maximum efficiency, Hanse Explorer was fashioned for minimal environmental impact. Her MAK diesel engine runs on light marine gas oil only and is modern, reliable, and highly fuel-efficient. She is equipped with a shaft generator, which produces the ship’s electricity while underway and saves considerable amounts of fuel. A reverse osmosis (desalination) plant produces 20 tons of fresh water a day. A Power Take-Home (PTH) System makes it possible to run all three auxiliary engines to generate enough electrical power to run the shaft generator as an electric motor for emergency propulsion. A booster mode makes it possible to increase the power when the ship is encountering heavy ice and needs an extra thrust to break free.
All of Hanse Explorer’s operations are completely carbon-offset.