A new kind of polar ship is taking shape – one that sails on wind and sunlight instead of heavy fuel oil. Selar’s Captain Arctic, a 70‑metre hybrid expedition yacht, has passed several major construction milestones and is on track to welcome just 36 guests on near‑zero‑emission voyages to Svalbard and Greenland from late 2026.
A Hull in the Water, A Vision Coming to Life
Construction of Captain Arctic formally began with a keel‑laying ceremony led by engineering specialist Goltens and Mauritius‑based shipyard Chantier Naval de l’Océan Indien, signalling the start of the project’s physical build. Since then, the vessel’s steel hull has been fully fabricated and launched in Dubai, before being towed to Mauritius for outfitting, systems integration and commissioning.
The hull delivery marks a tangible leap from bold concept to reality. Once complete, Captain Arctic will sail under the French flag as the first solar‑sailing polar ship designed from the keel up for low‑impact expedition cruising.
Solar Sails and Clean Electric Propulsion
What sets Captain Arctic apart is its energy system. Rather than relying primarily on fossil fuels, the ship combines multiple renewable technologies:
- Rigid solar sails: Five 35‑metre aluminium sails, fitted with around 2,000 m² (20,000 sq ft) of photovoltaic panels, harness both wind and sunlight. They are fully retractable, designed to withstand harsh Arctic conditions yet fold away “like a Swiss Army knife” when necessary.
- Clean electric propulsion: Two propeller shafts double as hydro turbines, generating electricity when the ship is under sail.
- Smart energy and waste systems: Water is produced via reverse osmosis; heating comes from a pellet boiler using recycled wooden waste; organic food digesters and advanced treatment tanks minimise waste and transform black and grey water into technical-quality water.
Together, these systems are expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 90% compared with conventional vessels of similar size, positioning Captain Arctic firmly in the “near‑zero‑emission” category.
Small Ship, Big Idea: 36 Guests, 24 Crew
Measuring around 70 metres long and carrying only 36 passengers and 24 crew, Captain Arctic is deliberately small. The compact size allows:
- No fixed itineraries – routes can flex around wildlife, ice conditions and weather rather than port slots and tight timetables.
- Deeper immersion ashore, with more time spent hiking, kayaking or exploring rather than simply transiting between anchorages.
- A quieter footprint in sensitive environments, aligning with the ship’s low‑impact ambition.
The onboard experience is pitched as “expedition first, cruise second”: Nordic‑inspired interiors, a relaxed yacht‑like atmosphere and a strong focus on education, science support and time outdoors.
Led by a Former Polar Captain Turned Changemaker
At the helm of Selar is Sophie Galvagnon, a former polar captain who became the youngest woman to command a polar expedition ship at age 26. After years working on fuel‑intensive vessels, she grew increasingly uncomfortable with the environmental cost of traditional operations and set out to design something different.
Galvagnon describes Selar as “nature‑powered” by design, with Captain Arctic using wind and solar energy not just to cut emissions but to force a rethink of how expedition travel works. Key elements of that vision include:
- No‑internet voyages, encouraging guests to disconnect and focus on the landscapes and people around them
- Flexible, weather‑led itineraries that follow wildlife and conditions, rather than chasing a rigid checklist
- Science and cleanup work, including a goal to remove at least five tonnes of plastic annually from Svalbard’s shores and to provide low‑carbon logistics support for research stations
In Galvagnon’s view, decarbonising the ship is only part of the story; the bigger shift lies in changing habits – travelling more slowly, staying longer and treating each voyage as a privilege rather than a consumable product.
Maiden Voyages: Svalbard, Greenland and Beyond in Late 2026
With the hull now launched and outfitting under way, Captain Arctic is scheduled to begin sea trials ahead of a late‑2026 debut, with initial expeditions planned for Norway, Svalbard and Greenland. Early departures are already generating strong interest from travellers seeking low‑impact ways to experience the polar regions, with some itineraries reported as close to fully booked.
Once in service, the ship will:
- Offer expedition‑style journeys focused on biodiversity, ice landscapes and remote communities
- Maintain a strict zero‑waste policy at sea and adhere to stringent polar guidelines
- Serve as a floating proof‑of‑concept that luxury and environmental responsibility can coexist in some of the planet’s most fragile waters
As the cruise and expedition sectors wrestle with their environmental footprints, Captain Arctic stands out as a tangible glimpse of what the next generation of ships could look like: compact, quiet, powered by wind and light, and built around the idea that the best way to experience the polar world is to leave as little trace as possible.
