An ice-breaking cruise ship named Le Commandant Charcot operated by Ponant, became the first ship to reach the North Pole of Inaccessibility on September 12, 2024. The ship was on its transpolar voyage from Nome, Alaska, to Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen, reports Marine Insight.
Least Accessible
During the expedition, the ship passed through the Magnetic North Pole on September 13 and the Geographic North Pole on September 15.
The North Pole of Inaccessibility is the Arctic Ocean’s most remote point, located about 620 miles from the nearest coast.
It is considered one of the least accessible places on Earth due to its extreme isolation and harsh conditions.
Captain Étienne Garcia stated that reaching this point is a rare moment and a shared adventure made possible by Ponant’s expertise and passion.
Le Commandant Charcot is more than just an expedition cruise ship. It also functions as a floating scientific laboratory. The vessel carried 20 international scientists onboard, who collected crucial information in the rarely explored area.
The ship has two dedicated scientific laboratories and specialized equipment to facilitate environmental monitoring, glaciology, marine biology, and oceanography research.
Hybrid Electric Engine
The vessel is powered by a hybrid electric engine that operates on liquified natural gas (LNG), which helps reduce environmental impact during explorations.
Alexander Koltchak, a Russian explorer, first described the North Pole as inaccessible in 1909.
Its exact coordinates, 85°48′ North and 176°09′ East, were discovered in 2013 using NASA satellite data. The location is far more than the Geographic North Pole, about 700 kilometers from land.
Despite being flown over by Hubert Wilkins in 1927, no one had ever set foot on this inaccessible site until the momentous journey.
Did you subscribe to our daily Newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe!
Source: Marine Insight
