National Geographic Endurance makes maiden Portsmouth call
The Lindblad Expeditions-operated polar vessel welcomed a plaque exchange before passengers departed on local excursions.
National Geographic Endurance made its first call at Portsmouth on October 1 while sailing from Scotland to Portugal. Other vessels operated by Lindblad Expeditions have previously visited the port, but the report identified this as the inaugural Portsmouth visit for National Geographic Endurance, which it said was built in 2021.
A traditional plaque exchange was held aboard the ship between Shaping Portsmouth volunteer Vanessa Busfield and Captain Aaron Wood.
Wood described the ship as a Polar Class Five passenger vessel designed to operate in some of the world’s harshest environments. He said National Geographic Endurance typically spends eight to nine months each year in the Arctic and Antarctica.
According to the report, 144 American tourists disembarked in Portsmouth and joined excursions to destinations including Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Titchfield Haven, Fort Nelson and Winchester.