French operator Selar's new polar expedition vessel Captain Arctic began sea trials off Mauritius last week ahead of her scheduled delivery on November 10.
The 70-metre, PC7 ice-class vessel will be handed over at the Port-Louis facilities of Chantier Naval de l'Ocean Indien. She remains in the final adjustment stage, and additional trials are planned in different wind conditions.
Selar CEO and co-founder Sophie Galvagnon is directing the trials, which have included assessments of the vessel's structure and the handling of her five rigid sails.
Galvagnon said changes had also been made to interior details and waste management, "but nothing major or significant, probably because we did a lot of work on the project beforehand."
The patented aluminium sails were designed by Cormoran. Each stands 35 metres tall, and together they carry close to 2,000 square metres of solar modules.
The sails were installed before the vessel's float-out on August 25 and were mechanically tested at berth.
Wind and solar power are combined with a battery bank, hydrogeneration through the two propeller shafts and an auxiliary biofuel engine. Selar is targeting CO2 emissions 90 per cent lower than the emissions produced by most cruise ships in the region.
Some shipyard workers will join the transit crew, which is training at the yard in preparation for the required audits.
Captain Arctic will accommodate 36 passengers and 24 crew. Selar plans 14 departures in 2027, combining Norway voyages with expeditions to Svalbard and Greenland, and another 14 in 2028.
Galvagnon said 2027 occupancy stood at 80 per cent, with the first two Norway cruises sold out.
The hull was built by Goltens in Dubai following a keel laying in late 2024 and launched in October 2025. Ship-ST was responsible for the naval architecture.
The vessel is classed by Bureau Veritas.