Historic First: Cruise Ship Reaches North Pole of Inaccessibility

Ponant’s ice-strengthened expedition cruise ship Le Commandant Charcot has become the first ship to reach the North Pole of Inaccessibility, marking a significant milestone in polar navigation.

The vessel accomplished the feat on September 12, 2024, while traversing the Transpolar route from Nome, Alaska, to Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen. The journey also included crossing the Magnetic North Pole on September 13 and the Geographic North Pole on September 15, further cementing its place in maritime history.

The North Pole of Inaccessibility, denoting the point in the Arctic Ocean farthest from any landmass, is the Arctic Ocean’s most remote point. Situated about 620 miles from the nearest land, it’s regarded as one of Earth’s least accessible locations due to its extreme isolation and harsh Arctic conditions.

North Pole of Inaccessibility map — North Pole of Inaccessibility. Map courtesy Ponant

“Reaching the North Pole of Inaccessibility is a moment of rare intensity,” said Captain Étienne Garcia. “Above all, it is a collective adventure, made possible thanks to PONANT’s passion and expertise.”

Le Commandant Charcot is not just an expedition cruise ship, but a floating scientific laboratory. With 20 international scientists on board, the ship is actively collecting critical data in this previously unexplored area. The vessel boasts two dedicated scientific laboratories and specialized equipment, facilitating research in oceanography, glaciology, marine biology, and environmental monitoring.

Since 2021, Le Commandant Charcot has hosted over 150 scientists and 60 international projects, more than half spanning multiple years. From 2024 to 2029, Ponant is partnering with the European Union-funded POLARIN project, which aims to create a global network of polar research infrastructure.

The vessel’s design prioritizes both exploration capabilities and environmental responsibility. As the only high polar exploration vessel with a Polar Class 2 (PC2) hull, Le Commandant Charcot can navigate extreme polar environments while minimizing its ecological footprint through a hybrid electric engine powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).

As climate change continues to impact polar regions, expeditions like this provide valuable data and insights, contributing to our understanding of these sensitive ecosystems and the global climate system.