M/V Plancius
M/v "Plancius" was built in 1976 as an oceanographic research vessel for
the Royal Dutch Navy and was named "Hr. Ms. Tydeman". The ship sailed
for the Dutch Navy until June 2004.
Still under construction, but available
for Polar expeditions in January 2010, the vessel shall be completely
rebuilt as a 110-passenger vessel and shall comply with the latest
SOLAS-regulations (Safety Of Life At Sea). M/v "Plancius" is classed by
Lloyd's Register in London and will fly the Dutch flag.
M/v "Plancius" can accommodate 110 passengers in 53 passenger cabins
with private toilet and shower in 4 triple private cabins, 39 twin
private cabins (ca. 15 square meters) and 10 twin superior cabins (ca.
21 square meters).
All cabins offer lower berths (either two
single beds or one queen-size bed), except for the 4 triple cabins
(bunk beds and 1 lower bed).
The vessel offers a
restaurant/lecture room on deck 3 and a spacious observation lounge
(with bar) on deck 5 with large windows, offering full panorama view.
M/v "Plancius" has large open deck spaces (with full walk-around
possibilities on deck 3), giving excellent opportunities to enjoy the
scenery and wildlife. She
is furthermore equipped with 10 Mark V zodiacs, including 40 HP
4-stroke outboard engines and 2 gangways on starboard side,
guaranteeing a swift zodiac operation.
M/v "Plancius" will be
comfortable and nicely decorated, but is not a luxurious vessel. Our
voyages in the Arctic and Antarctic regions are and will still be
primarily defined by an exploratory educational travel programme,
spending as much time ashore as possible. This vessel will fully meet
our demands to achieve this.
The vessel is equipped with a diesel-electric propulsion system which reduces the noise and vibration of the engines considerably. The 3 diesel engines generate 1.230 horse-power each, giving the vessel a speed of 10 - 12 knots. The vessel is ice-strengthened and was specially built for oceanographic voyages.
M/v "Plancius" is manned by 17 nautical crew, 19 hotel staff (6 chefs, 1 hotel manager, 1 steward-barman and 11 stewards / cabin cleaners), 8 expedition staff (1 expedition leader and 7 guides-lecturers) and 1 doctor.
| Length: | 89 metres (293 feet) | |
| Breadth: | 14,5 metres (47 feet) | |
| Draft: | 5 metres (16 feet) | |
| Ice class: | 1D | |
| Displacement: | 3175 tonnes | |
| Engines: | 3x Diesel-Electric | |
| Speed: | 10 - 12 knots | |
| Passengers: | 110 |
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Cabins:
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Age Range & Nationality
Passengers
on a typical voyage range from their 30s to their 80s - with a majority
usually from 45 - 65. Our expeditions attract independent-minded
travellers from around the world. They are characterised by a strong
interest in exploring remote regions. The camaraderie and spirit that
develops aboard is an important part of the expedition experience. Many
departures have several nationalities on board.
Combating sea sickness
Anticipate some rough
water on the voyage. Should you be prone to motion or sea sickness,
please consult your physician which medication is appropriate and its
side effects.
To avert motion sickness, avoid alcohol, tobacco,
excess liquids, and confined spaces. Most people feel better sitting on
deck looking at the horizon or prone with eyes shut. Oddly, you will
feel better with some food, such as crackers or dry toast in your
stomach. Many people eat to avoid feeling sick. Remember, once you
start to experience motion sickness, medications are of little help.
Dress code
In
keeping with our expeditions atmosphere, dress on board is informal.
Bring casual and comfortable clothing for all activities. Keep in mind
that much of the spectacular scenery can be appreciated from deck,
which can be slippery. Bring sturdy shoes with no-slip soles and make
sure the parka is never far away in case of the call "Whales!" comes
over the loudspeaker and you have to dash outside. Wear layers since it
is comfortably warm aboard the ship - and often cold on deck.
Gratuities
The
customary gratuity to the ship's service personnel is made as a blanket
contribution at the end of the voyage which is divided among the crew.
You will receive detailed guidelines aboard. Tipping is a very personal
matter and the amount you wish to give is at your discretion. As a
generally accepted guideline, we suggest US$8 to US$10 per person per
day. It is better for the crew, if we can give them cash US Dollar.
Non-smoking policy
On
board our vessels we have a non-smoking policy. It is prohibited to
smoke inside the ship. You can smoke on deck but do not throw your
cigarette filter overboard ! Do not smoke on the aft deck in the
proximity of zodiacs, engines and fuel. Please respect the wishes of
non-smokers.
Your physical condition
You
must be in good general health and you should be able to walk several
hours per day. The expedition is ship-based and physically not very
demanding. Although we spend as much time as possible ashore, you are
welcome to remain aboard the ship if you like. To join most excursions,
you must be able to get up and down the steep gangway from the ship to
the water level to board the Zodiacs. Staff will assist you in and out
of the boats. This will become progressively easier with practice.
Ashore it can be slippery and rocky. You are travelling in remote areas
without access to sophisticated medical facilities, so you must not
join this expedition if you have a life-threatening condition, or need
daily medical treatment.
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