Australia’s leading expedition cruise company, Aurora Expeditions, announced it will name its 2nd purpose-built expedition ship after the renowned marine biologist and oceanographer, Dr Sylvia Earle.
The newbuild honours Earle as an accomplished explorer, marine biologist, and oceanographer, as well as the first woman to become chief scientist of the US National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration and named by Time Magazine "First Hero for the Planet" back in 1998. The ship pays tribute to her long-standing conservation efforts for ocean wildlife and marine protected areas.
Built to world-class polar standards the Sylvia Earle ship will be inaugurated in October 2021 in Ushuaia. The 126-passenger vessel will be the second in the fleet (following Greg Mortimer) to feature the patented ULSTEIN X-BOW (inverted bow design) and Rolls Royce dynamic stabilisers offer unrivalled stability and comfort on ocean crossings, as well as reduce fuel consumption by up to 60%.
Sylvia Earle will also boast a 2-level glass atrium lounge in her bow. In Polar regions, passengers will be able to appreciate the majesty of icebergs.