By
Alex Smith |
Aurora Expeditions has christened its new expedition vessel, the Douglas Mawson, in a ceremony held on Sydney Harbour.
Emma McEwin, great-granddaughter of Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas Mawson, performed the naming by breaking a sheet of ice across the ship’s bow, replacing the traditional champagne. Aurora Expeditions founder Greg Mortimer was among those in attendance at the ceremony.
The Douglas Mawson was designed for polar and expedition cruising and features an X-Bow hull, which is designed to cut through the water to deliver improved stability and fuel efficiency. The ship has panoramic lounges, observation decks, a two-storey atrium, and a Citizen Science Centre for passenger participation in research and environmental monitoring.
Following the ceremony in Sydney, the vessel will sail to Hobart, Tasmania, for its inaugural voyage, a 10-night circumnavigation of the island. The voyage will be led by environmental scientist Tim Jarvis. The itinerary will then continue to Antarctica and the Sub-Antarctic Islands, and later to Europe and the Arctic.