What is the ULSTEIN X-BOW?
Douglas Mawson holds a diverse selection of staterooms, with more single cabins than other ships in the Infinity class. She is designed for global exploration, reflecting the pioneering spirit of her namesake, the renowned Australian geologist and explorer. She can operate in both warm and cold climates and has a Polar Class 6 rating for Arctic explorations.
These ships are designed to provide maximum comfort for passengers while being agile enough to access locations that larger vessels cannot. The inverted bow, known as the ULSTEIN X-BOW, reduces slamming, vibrations, and noise from waves, enhancing stability and fuel efficiency.
This is how Aurora Expeditions explains the X-BOW
Meeting 10m-high waves - an X-BOW story from one of the Infinity-class vessels
The sea trial
During her sea trial, which included 126 participants and a team of service engineers from Ulstein, the vessel departed from the Yangtze River. All test items were successfully completed, with each performance metric meeting or exceeding the specified requirements.
The Infinity class
SunStone Ships has commissioned seven expedition cruise ships in its Infinity class, with 'Douglas Mawson' being the final delivery. This newbuild, project number U11058 at the CMHI yard in China, is also the third vessel chartered by Aurora Expeditions in this series, following 'Greg Mortimer' and 'Sylvia Earle'.
Each vessel in this series can be customised according to the charterer's preferences. Notably, the latest two Aurora vessels feature large windows in the bow, a bow lounge, and an inside/outside top deck restaurant. Additionally, all Aurora's three ships in the series include a dive centre, a unique feature within the Infinity class.
The ship is prepared for methanol conversion when the fuel becomes readily available and has the potential to incorporate batteries in the future. It also includes waste heat recovery and waste management systems.
