Antarctica XXI Orders Polar Expedition Cruise Ship

Antarctic air-cruise specialist ANTARCTICA XXI announced it has ordered a new polar expedition ship from ASENAV for the 2019-2020 cruise season.

The 100-passenger vessel will be named Magellan Explorer. ASENAV has previously built expedition ships for Australis.

Minke Shipping Company will be the owner of the ship, which is on long-term charter to ANTARCTICA XXl.

“The Magellan Explorer is the first small passenger ship to be purpose built for Antarctica in the last 14 years,” stated Jaime Vásquez Sapunar, ANTARCTICA XXI’S President and Chairman. “To ensure we continue to offer an exclusive boutique experience to our guests, we will limit the capacity to a maximum of 70 guests for each Antarctic air-cruise departure.”

Built by Santiago-based ASENAV with interiors by the Chilean company Enrique Concha & Co., the ship will feature 50 passenger cabins in five categories of accommodation, including dedicated single cabins.

Public areas include a large forward-facing observation lounge that is also suitable for the delivery of briefings and educational presentations, an observation deck, a dining room that accommodates all guests and expedition staff in a single sitting, two meeting rooms, a gift shop, a protected outdoor barbecue area, a gym, and a sauna, the company said.

The Magellan Explorer has been planned specifically for the operation of  Antarctic air-cruises, the company said, with many technical features designed to support long periods of time away from port. Extended fuel range, comfortable crew quarters, spacious storage areas for provisions and supplies, and a well-equipped workshop for equipment maintenance are just some of the features that make MV Magellan Explorer the ideal vessel for fly and cruise operations.

The ship is being built to the latest Polar Code Specifications and carries a Polar Class 6 ice-class (Lloyd’s Register PC6). 

SHIP SPECIFICATIONS:
Passengers: 100 maximum
Staff and crew: 60
Length: 90.7 m (298 ft.)
Breadth: 16.2 m (53 ft.)
Draft: 4.3 m (14 ft.)
Gross tonnage: 4,900
Ice-class: LR PC6
Propulsion: 2X MAN main engines, total 3,440 kW
Speed: 14 knots
Flag: Bahamas

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