Aurora announces newbuild

AURORA Expeditions this morning confirmed its first ever purpose-built expedition vessel is under construction ( TD breaking news), with the ship to debut in time for the 2019/20 Antarctic season.

The yet-to-be-named ship will be the first expedition vessel to utilise the patented X-BOW technology which makes it more efficient and less subject to the vertical motion induced by waves.

Robert Halfpenny, who was recently appointed as Aurora’s managing director, said the new product would stay true to the company’s small-ship philosophy “where the focus is on the experience and engagement with the environment”.

Built to the latest polar code specifications, the state-of-the-art ice class 1A ship will be able to access not only high latitudes but waters across the planet.

Aurora said it would allow for greater adventure opportunities with a custom-designed platform to cater for additional numbers of kayakers and divers, and a mud room for easier preparation for climbers and skiers.

There would also be a dedicated sea-level Zodiac platform for quick and easy boarding to undertake multiple daily landings.

Halfpenny said Aurora would have the ability to reduce pax numbers so the ship could visit existing landing sites as well as explore new areas where strict regulations enforced no more than 100 pax ashore at any time.

He said the newbuild would complement Aurora’s existing range of vessels and destinations, with itineraries expected to be released later this year.

More details in tomorrow’s CW.