On November 29th, the Florida USA-based cruise shipowner SunStone Ships (subsidiary of SunStone Maritime Group) launched Douglas Mawson - the 7th and final vessel of the Infinity Class.
The launch ceremony was held at China Merchant’s Heavy Industry/CMHI's shipyard in Haimen.
Douglas Mawson will be long-term chartered to the Australia-based Aurora Expeditions/fleet, starting operations for Aurora Expeditions in December 2025.
The 104-meter/341-feet long vessel was ordered in 2023. Its hull is Ice Class A/Polar Class 6, allowing operations in the polar regions. Designed by Norway's Ulstein Design & Solutions, it incorporates the patented X-BOW design.
SunStone highlights the ship’s environmental credentials, including Tier III engines with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology to reduce emissions. The Douglas Mawson operates on low-sulfur marine gas oil (MGO), features heat recovery systems, and is fitted with LED lighting for energy efficiency.
Accommodating up to 170 passengers and 102 crew/staff, Douglas Mawson is engineered for both sustainability and safety. Notable systems include dynamic positioning, zero-speed stabilizers, and a safe return-to-port capability. These technologies aim to minimize the ship's environmental footprint while enhancing passenger and crew safety.
SunStone's Infinity Class ships are all constructed at CMHI China and reflect the shipowner's commitment to innovative, eco-friendly design.
The penultimate ship in the series, the Ocean Albatros, was delivered in April 2023, following the keel-laying in January 2022.
The completion of MS Douglas Mawson marks the culmination of this groundbreaking series, which has set new standards in expedition cruising.