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 and was purchased by Oceanwide Expeditions. The vessel was completely rebuilt as a passenger vessel in 2009 and complies with the latest SOLAS-regulations (Safety of Life at Sea). The ship is classed by Lloyd’s Register and flies the Dutch flag.
The ship is perfect for polar expeditions and accommodates 116 passengers in 53 cabins. The ship features cabins with private toilet and shower and accommodations include quadruple porthole cabins, triple porthole cabins, twin porthole cabins, twin cabins with windows, twin deluxe cabins, and twin superior cabins. All cabins offer lower berths (one queen-size bed in the superior cabins and two single beds in the twin cabins), except for the quadruple cabins (2 x upper and lower berths), and triple cabins (1 bunk bed plus 1 lower bed).
The ship features a restaurant and lecture room on deck 3 and a spacious observation lounge with a bar on deck 5 with panoramic windows. The ship provides guests with large open deck spaces with full walk-around on deck 4, giving guests excellent opportunities to enjoy the scenery and wildlife. The ship is equipped with 10 Mark V zodiacs with 40 HP 4-stroke outboard engines, and gangways on the starboard side, guaranteeing easy access to the tenders. The ship is comfortable decorated but is not considered a luxury vessel. This is an expedition ship. The voyages in the polar regions are primarily defined by the educational travel program, with guests spending as much time ashore as possible.
The vessel is equipped with a diesel-electric propulsion system which reduces the noise and vibration of the vessel 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. The ship is staffed with a crew of 37 (18 nautical crew and 19 hotel crew), 8 expedition staff (1 expedition leader, 1 assistant expedition leader and 6 guides/lecturers), and 1 doctor.
In the spirit of an expedition, dress on board is informal. Casual and comfortable clothing is recommended for all activities. Much of the scenery and wildlife can be appreciated from deck which can be slippery so shoes with no-slip soles are required. Passengers are reminded to keep a parka close at hand in case one of our crew shouts “Whales!” over the loudspeaker. Guests are reminded to be ready to dash outside in a moment’s notice for whale sightings. Guests are urged to opt for layers, as it is warm onboard the ship but often cold on deck.
Activities include basecamp, kayak trips, mountaineering, hiking, snowshoeing, photo workshops, and polar diving. For scuba divers, the crew will offer 1 or 2 dives per day (depending on weather and ice conditions) under shallow ice, down along walls, from the beach, or from a Zodiac. Divers reach a maximum depth of 20 meters (60 feet). Diving under Polar waters is like no other dive – the combination of water, sunlight, and ice formations creates an ever-shifting spectacle of colors. Divers are required to have at least thirty logged cold-water, dry-suit dives. Equipment required: dry suit with hood, warm underwater garments, dry gloves, two sets of freeze-protected regulators, pressure gauge, depth gauge, computer, and BCD.