Germany's Schulte Marine Concept (SMC) has won its first cruiseship contract.
The project management arm of Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) said it will work together with Bernhard Schulte Cruise Services (BS Cruise) on a newbuilding for Portugal-based Mystic Cruises.
It will provide technical consultancy and construction supervision for the luxury expedition vessel World Explorer.
Mystic, led by Mario Ferreira, already has a river cruise operation, DouroAzul, with 16 vessels, plus Nicko Cruises of Germany operating another 20 river ships. Both are gaining new ships in 2018.
Ferreira anticipates at least another three expedition vessels besides World Explorer being delivered over the next four years.
The 9,300-gt ice-class World Explorer will have a passenger capacity of 200 and a crew complement of 111.
It is being built at WestSea Viana Shipyard in Portugal, for delivery next winter.
SMC managing director Krzysztof Kozdron said: “Schulte Marine Concept is pleased to enter the expedition cruise newbuilding segment with an innovative vessel such as the World Explorer, which will be the ultimate benchmark for environmental sustainability and luxury cruising in remote areas."
