Rolls-Royce has signed a contract price about $33 million with Norwegian shipbuilder Kleven to design and equip two new polar cruise ships.

The contract between Kleven and Rolls-Royce follows the conversion of a letter of intent right into a agency contract signed between Kleven and Hurtigruten. The contract consists of an choice for 2 extra vessels.

“The ships soon about to take shape in the docks of Kleven will be striking,” commented Daniel Skjeldam, CEO of Hurtigruten. “They will attract interest to both the Norwegian ship building industry and to Hurtigruten as a leading player within the field of explorer tourism. To me, this contract is proof of the combined innovation powers of Norway’s maritime industry and the country’s growing tourism industry. Together we are providing growth along the long and beautiful Norwegian coastline.”

In addition to the ship design, Rolls-Royce will provide an bundle of know-how and tools, together with Rolls-Royce’s Unified Bridge answer, which represents a whole redesign of the ship bridge setting. Consoles, levers and software program interfaces can have a typical feel and appear, leading to a extra snug, clutter-free and finally extra protected and environment friendly working setting for the captain and bridge staff, says Rolls-Royce.

“Hurtigruten and Kleven have agreed to build state-of the art passenger vessels, and Rolls-Royce will provide some of the most innovate ship technology on the market today. I’m confident that these new polar cruise vessels will bring the proud heritage of the Hurtigruten into a similarly proud future,” stated Helge Gjerde, Director of Offshore and Merchant Solutions at Rolls-Royce.

Delivery of the vessels is deliberate for early 2018.