Built in 1990 by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries at Kobe as Frontier Spirit for NYK Line, and having operated for Hapag-Lloyd for almost 20 years, Bremen (1990/6,752gt) had a major internal rejuvenation which readied her for another Antarctic season that began in November. Her 19-day stay at the Hamburg repair yard of Blohm + Voss allowed the replacement of about 800m2 of carpeting, vast amounts of other fabrics and a compete refit of the galley areas.
Additionally, more than 20 tonnes of old paint was removed and work was carried out on the ship’s propellers. She completes her Antarctic season at the end of January and then does a partial circumnavigation of the continent before heading for New Zealand, and later the South Pacific.