- The Magellan Discoverer completed sea trials in the South Atlantic
- The 100-passenger vessel is scheduled to be delivered later this year
- The Discoverer will become the first hybrid-electric expedition ship built at a shipyard in the Americas
- The 5,900-ton vessel features a PC6 ice-class hull and Corvus battery package
- After delivery, the Discoverer starts its maiden season in Antarctica in December
The new Magellan Discoverer has completed a set of sea trials in the South Atlantic, according to an update shared by ASENAV, which is building the ship. In the final stages of construction in Valdivia, the 100-passenger vessel is scheduled to be delivered by the Chilean shipbuilder later this year. Representatives from different entities boarded the ship for the trials, testing navigational, safety and technical systems.
According to ASENAV, the Discoverer will become the first hybrid-electric expedition ship to be built at a shipyard in the Americas. Designed for polar cruising, the 5,900-ton vessel was ordered by Antarctica21 in early 2024 and will feature a PC6 ice-class hull. According to the Chilean company, the Discoverer is also being built to the highest environmental standards, with highlights including a Corvus battery package. The ship will also offer larger guest cabins, all with private balconies, and a wraparound walking deck offering 360-degree views of the polar landscapes. ASENAV recently hosted the President of Chile, José Antonio Kast Rist, to its shipyard. Rist inspected the Magellan Discoverer and noted that the country is working to incentivise shipbuilding.
The Magellan Discoverer will join the Magellan Explorer, which was also built at the shipyard and entered service in 2023. The 100-passenger ship offers expeditions to Patagonia, the Chilean Fjords and Antarctica and recently kicked off its 2026-27 season with an itinerary from Puerto Montt. After being delivered, the Discoverer is scheduled to host its first guests in December, starting its maiden season in Antarctica. During most of the season, the ships will offer Antarctica21’s signature expedition package, which provides a fly-cruise product. Passengers start their trip in Chile before embarking on chartered flights to King George Island, where they board the company’s vessel for expedition cruising in Antarctica.
