MAJOR REFIT IN 2017 FOR SEA ADVENTURER

The chartered Sea Adventurer will have a massive refit in Norway between April and June 2017, to be undertaken by Ulstein Verft.

Now 41 years old, this Yugoslavian-built former coastal passenger ship entered service with the Murmansk Shipping Company as Alla Tarasova. She was one of eight similar ships.

Clipper Cruise Line had her rebuilt as Clipper Adventurer in 1997 for expedition cruising, and for much of the intervening period she has operated for Quark Expeditions, part of the TUI Adventure Division.

The scope of the work to be carried out is astonishing for such a small, old ship, but clearly the ice-strengthened hull has sufficient life left to justify the replacement of the entire drive chain from engines to propeller blades.

Internally the alterations will include some new cabins and every cabin will get a new bathroom. The 4,376gt carries just 117 passengers, served by a crew of 83.