While demand for expedition cruising continues to grow, operating vessels in some of the world’s most remote and environmentally sensitive regions is becoming increasingly complex. Shipowners in this segment require far more than traditional cruise ship management; they need partners with proven experience in polar operations, advanced logistics, adherence to the strictest regulations and specialised crew preparedness.
Published on 27 May 2026
Against this background, BSM Cruise Services, the cruise subsidiary of Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, is expanding its business focus to include expedition ship management. The move reflects a strategic response to market demand and underlines BSM’s ambition to support owners operating sophisticated expedition vessels in polar and remote regions worldwide.
Operating expedition cruise ships presents distinct challenges compared to traditional cruising. Long distances from established supply chains place exceptional demands on technical support and hotel logistics. Weather extremes, ice conditions and limited port infrastructure require meticulous voyage planning and vessel operation. At the same time, the strictest environmental regulations and permitting processes must be adhered to.
To address these challenges, BSM Cruise Services is developing a dedicated expedition ship management capability, combining marine, technical, crewing and procurement expertise with hands‑on expedition experience. This also includes BSM Cruise Services’ recent admission as an Associate Member of International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), reinforcing alignment with the highest operational and environmental standards in Antarctic expeditions.
One visible outcome of this strategic expansion is the appointment of Capt. Nicole Langosch‑Thormann as Director Expedition, a newly created role within BSM Cruise Services. She is widely recognised as the first German female captain of a cruise ship and most recently served as Managing Director of the Hamburg-based joint venture organisation of HX Expeditions and BSM Cruise Services, which has been established in 2021 to provide technical management for HX’s fleet of four modern expedition cruise ships renowned for its pole-to-pole cruises. She brings wide-ranging operational experience in managing expedition fleets and polar operations.
In her role, Capt. Langosch‑Thormann is responsible for developing BSM Cruise Services’ expedition ship management offering, supporting owners throughout the operational lifecycle of their vessels, from pre‑season planning and regulatory compliance to crewing, audits and ongoing operational support, balancing safety, sustainability and commercial reliability.
“The expedition cruise market continues to grow rapidly, accompanied by increasing demands for regulatory compliance, safe polar navigation and sustainable operations in remote areas,” said Frank Oertel, Managing Director at BSM Cruise Services. “With Capt. Langosch-Thormann’s proven expertise in technical and marine leadership, we are well positioned to offer tailored ship management services that meet the sector’s specific challenges.”
With expedition cruising under increasing public and regulatory scrutiny, responsible ship management is essential. With its extended focus, BSM Cruise Services is charting a course to become a trusted partner for owners operating in some of the world’s most demanding regions, ensuring every expedition vessel is managed with precision, safety and purpose.
“Expedition ship management requires constant situational awareness and the ability to adapt decisions quickly and responsibly.”
Nicole Langosch © BSM
Logistics are unquestionably one of the biggest challenges. Expedition vessels operate far from established supply chains, which affects both technical operations and hotel services onboard. Local sourcing of food and consumables is essential for sustainability, but availability can be limited. At the same time, shipping spare parts over long distances is costly and can be affected by global freight delays. Therefore, a strong, flexible, and well-established international supplier network is essential.
A second key factor is the differing local realities. Regions such as Greenland or parts of South America require close attention to local regulations, port infrastructure, and geopolitical developments. Reliable port access, customs procedures and local partnerships are critical for ensuring smooth operations.
Finally, nature itself sets the rules. Extreme weather, ice conditions and geological activity, whether volcanic activity or ice movements in polar waters, directly influence navigation, scheduling and safety planning. Expedition ship management requires constant situational awareness and the ability to adapt decisions quickly and responsibly.
They require very long‑term and highly detailed planning. Voyage preparation often starts years in advance and includes complex logistics such as early flight bookings and, in some regions, the organisation of charter flights. Routes like Ushuaia, for example, depend heavily on limited flight connections via Buenos Aires, creating seasonal bottlenecks that must be managed carefully. Although planning is highly long-term, operations demand great flexibility. If the initial plan fails and alternative route planning becomes necessary, decisions must be taken quickly and supported by a robust fallback plan.
Regulatory requirements are another major aspect. Many expedition regions require extensive permitting processes, often submitted six months or more before the season starts. Some permits are allocated on fixed so called “Derby-Day”, meaning there is no room for error.
From a crewing perspective, this means recruiting highly specialised personnel who are not only technically competent, but also experienced in polar operations, environmental protection and emergency preparedness. Targeted training, audits and continuous compliance with ISM and polar regulations are essential to ensure safe and responsible operations.
A successful expedition operation depends on hands‑on experience and cross‑departmental cooperation. The fleet team of BSM Cruise Services includes experts from Technical, Marine, Procurement and Crewing which bring direct operational experience from expedition vessels.
All have actively been part in ships operation and inspecting and auditing as per ISM requirements to ensure safe operation in polar regions. This practical background allows the team to understand the realities faced by crews and owners alike and to manage expedition vessels with a strong focus on safety, compliance and operational excellence.
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