Viking Octantis

Viking Octantis is an expedition cruise ship operated by Viking Expeditions, part of Viking Cruises, built to Polar Class 6 (PC6) standards. The vessel has a gross tonnage of 30,252 GT, measures 203 m (666 ft) in length, and accommodates 378 passengers in 189 all-veranda staterooms across 6 decks (4 passenger decks). Construction took place at VARD Søviknes, Norway, and VARD Tulcea, Romania. The keel was laid on June 22, 2020, and the ship was launched (float-out) on December 22, 2020. It was delivered on December 22, 2021, and began its maiden Antarctic season in January 2022. The ship is registered in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway, under IMO 9863194 and MMSI 259070000. Viking Octantis features two custom-built 6-passenger submarines, 24 Zodiacs, Arctic-tested kayaks, a scientific laboratory, and the Aula panoramic auditorium. The vessel has a beam of 24 m, a maximum speed of 18 knots, a service speed of 16 knots, and operates with a crew of 260, including expedition staff.