Aurora Expeditions today celebrated the christening of the the Greg Mortimer, built by SunStone Ships in China.

In a ceremony set against the snow-capped mountains of Ushuaia, Argentina, co-founder of Aurora Expeditions and Godmother to the ship, Margaret Mortimer, smashed a ceremonial piece of Antarctic ice against the hull.

“I name this ship, Greg Mortimer. May God bless her and all who sail in her,” she said.

Alongside Margaret was her husband, renowned explorer and co-founder of Aurora Expeditions, Greg Mortimer, who the ship is proudly named after.

Speaking of her role as Godmother of the ship, Margaret Mortimer said: “It never crossed my mind that I would one day be Godmother to a ship named after my husband. I am so proud to be launching his namesake and pay tribute to all those hard-working people who have made this ship a reality. For future expeditioners, I hope you enjoy many hours of life changing moments on board the Greg Mortimer.”

Joined by officials from SunStone, CMI, Ulstein, maiden voyage guests and Aurora Expedition’s expedition team, the ceremony marked the beginning of a new era for the rapidly growing company.

Managing Director of Aurora Expeditions, Robert Halfpenny, said: “We are so proud to be launching this first in expedition cruising here today. We are excited to invite our guests to experience Mother Nature at her best and visit the most remote areas in the world, all whilst in the refined and relaxed comfort of the Greg Mortimer. Integral to Aurora Expeditions’ DNA is sustainability and preservation of natural areas, and that is showcased in the design of the Greg Mortimer with anchorless technology and reduced emissions. With our small expedition ships, lower environmental impact and improved comfort, Aurora Expeditions really is leading the way in expedition cruising.”