The Kattegat was built on Helsingør Skibsværft in Helsingør and put into service on July 17, 1972 for Jydsk Færgefart A / S. During its service as a ferry, the ship was renamed several times and used on different routes. Its owners included Normandy Ferries , Townsend Thoresen and the Viking Line . Most recently it was used as Ålandsfärjan between Sweden , Åland and Finland .
In winter 2008/2009 the ship was converted into an expedition cruise ship especially for use in polar regions. It is used by the Canadian cruise operator G Adventures. From June to September 2009 it was chartered to Hurtigruten and was used for expedition cruises around Svalbard .
The expedition has 58 outside cabins in which a maximum of 134 passengers can be accommodated. All cabins are equipped with a bathroom and toilet. A panorama lounge, a restaurant and a lecture room are also part of the equipment, as is a fitness room, library and bar.
