Antarctica21’s new 96-passenger expedition ship is expected to reach Punta Arenas in late October ahead of its naming ceremony and inaugural Antarctic season.
The Chilean operator says Magellan Discoverer is nearing completion at the ASENAV shipyard in Valdivia. The vessel is scheduled to arrive in Punta Arenas on 25 October, undergo a naming ceremony in November and begin carrying passengers in December 2026.
A previously announced 30 September delivery had not been publicly confirmed at the time of writing.
Built as a sister ship to the 2019-delivered Magellan Explorer, the 94-metre vessel will carry up to 88 passengers on Antarctic air-cruises and 96 on conventional sea voyages. It has 67 crew and expedition staff, a PC6 polar classification and a reported open-water cruising speed of 14 knots.
Its hybrid-electric system combines two 1,800kW diesel engines with batteries, an ABB DC electrical grid and Azipod propulsion. Antarctica21 says the arrangement will improve efficiency, reduce underwater noise and permit battery-powered operation during limited periods. Heat-recovery equipment, Tier III emissions controls, a wet and dry science laboratory and accommodation with private balconies are also included.
The operator describes Magellan Discoverer as the first hybrid-electric polar expedition cruise ship built in the Americas. That claim relates to its construction and propulsion architecture, rather than emissions-free operation. Antarctica21 has not released independently verified fuel-consumption figures or comparative emissions per passenger-night.
The ship represents a significant capacity increase for Antarctica21’s specialised fly-cruise operation, which transports guests by aircraft from Punta Arenas to King George Island, avoiding a sea crossing of the Drake Passage.
Company co-founder Jaime Vásquez said the 2026–27 programme would comprise 46 voyages and 300 nights in polar waters. However, the published breakdown of 36 air-cruises and eight sea voyages totals 44, leaving a discrepancy that requires clarification.
Sources: Antarctica21 ship specifications, Antarctica21 construction update, and PortalPortuario’s operational update.
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