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Le Lapérouse

Le Lapérouse is the lead ship of the Ponant Explorers-class cruise ship of cruise ships operated by Ponant. Each member of the class has been allocated the name of a famous French explorer, and Le Lapérouse is named after naval officer Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse.[1][2]

History

Built by VARD, Le Lapérouse had her keel laid down at VARD's Tulcea yard in Romania on 1 March 2017.[3] She was floated out on 18 December 2017, and was then finally outfitted at the builder's Søviknes facility in Ålesund, Norway.[4][5] After successful sea trials that began in May 2018,[6] she was delivered to Ponant in Ålesund on 15 June 2018.[7]

The following day, 16 June 2018, Le Lapérouse departed for Reykjavík, Iceland, where she commenced her maiden cruise on 19 June 2018.[8] She was christened by Maryvonne Pinault, the wife of French billionaire businessman François Pinault, at a ceremony in Hafnarfjörður, Iceland, on 10 July 2018.[9]

2021: New Zealand

In late January 2021, it was reported the New Zealand-based tourism company Wild Earth Travel had chartered Le Lapérouse to run small expeditions around the country commencing 30 January. The cruise ship applied for visa exemptions to enter New Zealand due to COVID-19 border restrictions. While Immigration New Zealand granted the ship and essential crew visa exemptions, 60 hospitality staff were denied visa exemptions on the grounds that they needed to hire New Zealanders. Though the hospitality crew were denied visa exemptions twice, Le Lapérouse still sailed for New Zealand. In response to media interest, Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi defended Immigration New Zealand's decision, stating that Le Lapérouse should have waited for the department to process its crew's visa applications before sailing for New Zealand. The ship was instructed to return its hospitality crew to New Caledonia in order to re-enter New Zealand.[10][11]

External links

References

  1. Rebecca Gibson. Ponant names four newbuilds after French explorers Cruise&Ferry.net, 15 September 2017, retrieved 10 September 2018^
  2. Andrew Cooke. Newbuild of the Month: Le Lapérouse Shipping Today and Yesterday, 13 November 2018, retrieved 6 April 2021^
  3. Vincent Groizeleau. Ponant : Mise sur cale des Bougainville et Dumont d'Urville Mer et Maritime, 4 July 2017, retrieved 18 November 2018^
  4. Le Lapérouse Heading to Norway from Tulcea Cruise Industry News, 28 December 2017, retrieved 9 September 2018^
  5. Le Laperouse Arrives in Norway for Final Outfitting Cruise Industry News, 25 January 2018, retrieved 9 September 2018^
  6. Rebecca Gibson. Le Lapérouse successfully completes first sea trials in Norway Cruise&Ferry.net, 5 June 2018, retrieved 9 September 2018^
  7. Le Lapérouse Delivered Cruise Industry News, 19 June 2018, retrieved 9 September 2018^
  8. Lindsay James. French cruise company Ponant takes delivery of Le Lapérouse Cruise&Ferry.net, 18 June 2018, retrieved 9 September 2018^
  9. Rebecca Gibson. Ponant names Le Lapérouse in Hafnarfjörður Cruise&Ferry.net, 13 July 2018, retrieved 9 September 2018^
  10. Andrea Vance. Government halts cruise ship, insists crew must be Kiwi Stuff, 29 January 2021, retrieved 29 January 2021^
  11. Covid 19 coronavirus: Cruise ship Le Lapérouse refused entry to NZ waters The New Zealand Herald, 29 January 2021, retrieved 29 January 2021^