As part of PONANT’s Science Programme, 20 scientists from across the world embarked on the first ever crossing of the Arctic Ocean from west to east in September 2024. Aboard Le Commandant Charcot, PONANT’s luxury icebreaker and the only one in the world, researchers undertook multi-disciplinary missions to study the impacts of global warming on the rapidly changing polar region, engaging passengers in the process.
The researchers from several scientific institutions including IPS, AWI and JAMSTEC came together in September 2024 for the first ever west to east crossing of the Arctic Ocean, a journey of 6,400 km between Alaska and Spitsbergen as part of the CHARCOT project.
Specifically designed for expeditions to extreme environments, Le Commandant Charcot, the world’s only luxury icebreaker, has a Polar Class 2 hull that enables the ship to navigate in polar regions while her hybrid electric propulsion powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) helps minimise her impact on the environment. The vessel has two laboratories (dry and wet) equipped to collect and analyse water, ice and air samples. A new SIMS (Sea Ice Monitoring Station) antenna is constantly measuring the thickness of the ice.
“This large-scale multi-disciplinary operation brought together 20 scientists of seven nationalities from 11 universities and institutes, leading six missions in fields such as the carbon cycle, the physics and biogeochemistry of the Arctic Ocean, ecosystem functions and microplastics. It was a real challenge to coordinate the different types of samples, at all times of the day and night, and adapt to unknown ice conditions,” explains Daniel Cron, Scientific Coordinator of the PONANT Science programme.
On board, scientists shared their knowledge and experience during talks and podcasts organised as part of the “Science Talks”. These enriching exchanges allowed guests to actively participate, particularly by observing the process of sample collection from the ice pack. The programme included seven scientific talks translated into English, French, and Mandarin, five round tables, and two film screenings followed by Q&A sessions.
Now, you too can be part of this extraordinary journey. In 2025, guests are invited to join a team of scientists on a similar transarctic expedition, experiencing firsthand the thrill of discovery in one of the most remote ecosystems on Earth.
Transarctic, the Quest for the Two North Poles
- Departing Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen to Nome, Alaska
- 5 September 2025 to 25 September 2025
- 20 nights on board Le Commandant Charcot
The PONANT Science Programme expands
The PONANT EXPLORATIONS Group is committed to making their entire fleet accessible for scientific research. In 2024, three more ships hosted research teams: L’Austral and Le Soléal in the Antarctic and the m/s Paul Gauguin in Polynesia. In 2025, a total of five ships will welcome researchers and provide them with suitable spaces and equipment. In addition, three research projects will be directly financed by PONANT Science. The group makes the data that is continuously being recorded available in open source for research centres that request it. An independent committee of scientific experts from scientific consortia assesses all applications and recommends the most appropriate projects.
The scientific research project in polar environments continues with POLARIN5. Established as a broader initiative, with transnational access to polar research infrastructures, Le Commandant Charcot has been made available until 2029 to facilitate interdisciplinary research into complex processes.
More details on the PONANT Science Programme and the selection process are available in the Group’s activity report.
