DOUGLAS MAWSON is a new-generation expedition cruise ship operated by Aurora Expeditions and one of the most modern small expedition vessels to have visited Piraeus. Delivered in September 2025, she is the seventh and final vessel of SunStone Maritime Group’s Infinity Class and the third ship of this type to operate for Aurora Expeditions, following Greg Mortimer and Sylvia Earle. The vessel is named after the Australian geologist and Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas Mawson.
The ship was built by China Merchants Heavy Industry (CMHI) at Haimen, China, to the ULSTEIN CX103 design. One of her most distinctive characteristics is the inverted X-BOW, developed to reduce pitching and improve comfort and fuel efficiency in heavy seas. DOUGLAS MAWSON is designed for polar and remote-area cruising and holds Ice Class 1A / Polar Class 6, while also incorporating dynamic positioning, zero-speed stabilisers and advanced return-to-port systems.
During 2026, DOUGLAS MAWSON moved into European and Mediterranean cruising. She made a call at Piraeus on 12 August 2026, arriving from Patmos, giving PiraeuShips the opportunity to record one of the newest expedition cruise ships operating in Greek waters.
Vessel Details
Name: DOUGLAS MAWSON
IMO: 9992713
MMSI: 311000951
Call Sign: C6EO2
Type: Expedition Cruise Ship
Flag: Bahamas
Built: 2025
Delivered: September 2025
Builder: China Merchants Heavy Industry, Haimen, China
Design: ULSTEIN CX103 / Infinity Class
Operator: Aurora Expeditions
Tonnage Provider / Owner Group: SunStone Maritime Group
Classification: Bureau Veritas
Length Overall: approx. 104.4 m
Beam: approx. 18.4 m
Gross Tonnage: 8,181 GT
Deadweight: 1,561 t
Passenger Capacity: 130 on expedition voyages / up to 154 on small-ship cruises
Cabins: 86–87
Crew Capacity: up to 102
Ice Class: 1A
Polar Class: PC6
Cruising Speed: approx. 10–12 knots
Maximum Speed: approx. 15.5 knots
History
DOUGLAS MAWSON was delivered to SunStone Maritime Group on 9 September 2025, completing the seven-ship Infinity Class newbuilding programme. The vessel entered service with Aurora Expeditions later that year and initially operated voyages in Australia, Tasmania and Antarctica before repositioning towards Europe in 2026.
The ship combines expedition capabilities with amenities more commonly associated with luxury small-ship cruising, including observation lounges, restaurants, a heated outdoor pool, Jacuzzis, sauna, gym, library and dedicated Zodiac embarkation areas. Aurora Expeditions markets the vessel for both polar expeditions and warmer-water small-ship cruises.
PiraeuShips Record
DOUGLAS MAWSON was recorded at Piraeus by PiraeuShips during her Mediterranean season in 2026. Her call on 31 August 2026 was particularly notable as the vessel had entered service less than a year earlier, making her one of the newest expedition cruise ships documented in the PiraeuShips visual archive.
Original video footage © PiraeuShips. All rights reserved.
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