CHIMU Adventures has received investment from shipping company Nordic Hamburg, which will enable the Aussie expedition line to embark on a “new phase of growth” (CW breaking news yesterday).
The investment will see Chimu charter a new lower-emissions vessel, Ocean Nova (pictured), which will arrive in Mar 2026.
Nordic’s funding will also see Intrepid Travel divest its stake in Chimu, into which it originally invested 50% in back in 2017 (CW 15 Aug 2017).
Chimu said the new Nordic Hamburg investment will enable it to innovate within the polar expedition market, with a focus on low-emission cruising.
“We’re thrilled to join forces with Nordic, leveraging their shipping expertise to expand our polar offerings and advance low emission technology in this industry for the future,” Chimu MD Chad Carey said.
“Our continued partnership with Intrepid will allow us to maintain our commitment to delivering purpose-driven, experiential polar adventures,” he added.
“As we look ahead, we’re also excited to extend the Chimu brand and business model into the North American and European markets.”
Intrepid will remain a close distribution partner of Chimu’s and the two will continue to offer polar journeys together.
The two are in the last season of a three-year charter of Ocean Endeavour ship to Antarctica.
“We are proud of what Intrepid achieved in Antarctica, but now with our ship lease ending, it is the right time for us to re-evaluate our approach,” Intrepid Chief Executive Officer James Thornton said. MS