Aurora Expeditions' new cruise ship passes sea trials

The new expedition cruise ship Douglas Mawson has officially passed its sea trials. The vessel, owned by SunStone Maritime Group, will be operated by Australia-based Aurora Expeditions under a long-term charter.

The Douglas Mawson belongs to the Infinity-class of expedition vessels and features an inverted bow design from Norwegian naval architect Ulstein. It is Ice Class 1A and Polar Class 6 certified for operations in challenging environments and is equipped with a dynamic positioning system and zero-speed stabilisers.

Aurora Expeditions stated the vessel has space for 130 to 154 expeditioners, while a separate description noted a capacity of up to 170 passengers and 102 crew. Onboard amenities will include a pool, a bar, restaurants, a library, a gym, and a spa.

The vessel was built by China Merchants Heavy Industry Haimen and launched in December 2024. It is a sister ship to the Ocean Explorer and Ocean Albatros, which were also delivered to owner SunStone in 2021 and 2023, respectively.