Dutch owner Oceanwide Expeditions is keen to order two more cruiseships at the Brodosplit shipyard in Croatia.
Speaking at the keel-laying ceremony for its second specialist polar vessel, the company's owner Wijnand Van Gessel said: "I believe in the long-term cooperation with Brodosplit and in the construction of two more new ships."
The 6,300-gt, 198-passenger vessel Janssonius is now due in August 2021, a couple of months earlier than originally expected.
It and sistership Hondius, delivered in 2019, cost more than €100m ($112m).
"We are extremely happy with the first ship Hondius, which has surpassed our expectations and the expectations of the passengers and crew members, as it is very economical," Van Gessel added, according to a yard statement.
He added he hoped the coronavirus crisis would soon end.
In December, the head of Brodosplit, Tomislav Debeljak, said that the profit the company will earn from Janssonius should be about 10% of its value.
Around 70% of its components originate in Croatia.
Founded in 1993, Oceanwide Expeditions has four other vessels in its fleet, although Clarksons lists one as idle and two as in repairs. It operates at both poles.
