Expedition operator Australis is introducing new green practices, according to a statement.

As the only company that offers cruises through Patagonia, it is conscious about its environmental impact, the company said.

Annually, between the months of September through April, Australis’s two ships, Stella and Ventus Australis, cover a four-night route between the cities of Punta Arenas, Chile and Ushuaia, Argentina, sailing through landmarks in Patagonia, such as the Beagle Channel and Cape Horn.

Both ships are already burning MGO (marine gas oil), the company said.

The recently launched Australis Net intranet portal gives guests digital access to the daily program of activities and talks – doing away with paper.

All solid waste is separated, compacted and unloaded in both ports the Stella and Ventus Australis call on.

Water used on its ships goes through a sewage treatment plant in order to be returned clean to the sea. The need for plastic water bottles onboard has been eliminated with the presence of purified water filters throughout the ships. Cabin amenities such as shampoos and soaps are biodegradable both in their packaging and in their contents.

Passengers on Australis cruise ships are ralso equired to clean their shoes with a solvent in order to eliminate any possible bacteria before disembarking on expeditions. The company also strictly enforces policies that establish the minimum distance to be kept between visitors and local species.