Nordic energy company Gasum has supplied a full cargo of LNG bunkers to a hybrid electric and LNG-fuelled expedition cruiseship owned by Ponant.

The operation took place as the 270-berth Le Commandant Charcot (built 2021) shifts from its first Arctic voyage and heads to its Antarctic season in the southern hemisphere.

Gasum undertook the bunkering — its first LNG supply in France — in a ship-to-ship operation in Le Harve on the country's north coast on Friday using the 7,500-cbm LNG bunker vessel Kairos (built 2018).

The Finnish LNG supplier has been extending its reach into northern Europe and acquired a licence earlier this year to supply LNG bunkers in France.

Gasum has been heavily involved on the LNG-fuelling of the Le Commander Charcot.

The company supplied LNG by truck for the initial cool-down of the vessel's 4,500-cbm membrane-type bunker tank at Vard Soeviknes in Norway where it was built.

Gasum then used its 5,700-cbm LNG bunker vessel Coralius (built 2017) to deliver a full cargo of LNG to the vessel for gas trials in a ship-to-ship operation off the yard.

Heading south

Ponant, the French cruise line, has been making its own history.

In September, the 11,000-gt Le Commandant Charcot, its flagship polar vessel, made it to the geographic North Pole. The company claimed this as "a first for a French ship, powered by LNG". The ship made the round voyage from Svaalbard in Norway to the pole running on gas.

In a Ponant webinar, Le Commandant Charcot captain Etienne Garcia explained how it was tricky to navigate the ship onto the exact 90 degree north point of the geographic North Pole but said he made it on the third attempt.

He said the vessel used its batteries while in the Polar region, cutting emissions and enabling it to move more silently and causing less disturbance to wildlife.

The Polar-class-2 ship, which if fitted with two azipod thrusters is capable of independently breaking ice more than two metres thick and an ice belt, is due to start its Antarctic itinerary on 31 October with a cruise from Punta Arenas in southern Chile.

It is expected to use its LNG bunkers to sail in the polar region. But as yet it is unclear how it will refuel with LNG.