The Douglas Mawson recently completed its first year of service for Aurora Expeditions, having been delivered on September 9, 2025.

Built by China Merchants Heavy Industry in Haimen, China, the ship was ordered by SunStone Maritime Group.

Designed for expedition service in polar and remote areas, the 170-passenger ship is the seventh and final vessel in a series known as the Infinity class.

Sailing for Aurora under a long-term charter agreement, the Douglas Mawson was named after the Australian geologist and Antarctic explorer whose work was central to the study of the polar regions.

With a design highlighted by a Polar Class 6 certification and Ulstein’s X-Bow, the vessel is also equipped with Safe Return to Port specifications, virtual anchoring and zero-speed stabilizers.

Before welcoming passengers for its maiden cruise, the 8,076-ton vessel was named during a special ceremony in Sydney, Australia.

Emma McEwing, the great-granddaughter of Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas Mawson, served as godmother of the ship.

The Douglas Mawson then kicked off its maiden season on December 1, 2025, embarking on an 11-night cruise to Tasmania.

Sailing roundtrip from Hobart, the voyage featured visits to a range of destinations on the Australian island, including South Bruny Island, Freycinet Peninsula and Recherche Bay.

The vessel then offered expedition itineraries to East Antarctica and the Ross Sea before repositioning to Europe in 2026.

For most of the year, the ship offered cruises in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe as part of Aurora’s Vantage Explorations program.

Upon completing its European schedule in mid-October, the Douglas Mawson is set to return to Antarctica for a second season.

Sailing from Ushuaia, Argentina, the ship will offer expedition itineraries to the Antarctic Peninsula, Elephant Island, South Georgia, the Falkland Islands and more.

In addition to the Douglas Mawson, Aurora operates two other Infinity-class ships: the 2019-built Greg Mortimer and the 2022-built Sylvia Earle.