Magellan Discoverer, the first hybrid cruise ship in the Americas, consolidates Chile´s leadership in sustainable Antarctic tourism

Asenav and Antarctica21 celebrated a significant milestone in Chilean naval engineering: the launch and christening of the Magellan Discoverer, the first luxury cruise ship in the Americas with hybrid (diesel-electric) propulsion, built entirely with Chilean engineering. The ceremony marked the exact moment the vessel was launched into the water, specifically on the Calle Calle River in the city of Valdivia.

With this innovation, Chilean Antarctic tourism continues to advance strongly. New investments and projects, such as the Magellan Discoverer, solidify Chile's position as a global leader in responsible and sustainable exploration of the White Continent.

According to Cristóbal Benítez, National Director of Sernatur, “this tremendous project will continue to strengthen Chile's position as a benchmark for Antarctic tourism through exploration cruises and air cruises. These products position us internationally as one of the leading Antarctic tourism destinations. We have been recognized at the World Travel Awards as the best cruise destination in South America and are now nominated again at the global level. These innovative, Chilean-made, and hybrid products help us enhance the destination's sustainability.”

The Chilean cruise ship will feature advanced navigation technology powered by a hybrid diesel-electric system. This configuration will allow the vessel to reduce its CO2 emissions, minimize underwater noise, and sail for sixty days without refueling, promoting sustainable tourism in Antarctica. Furthermore, the ship is certified under the IMO Tier III emissions standard, the most stringent in Europe, the United States, and Canada.

Fernando Rodríguez, General Manager of Asenav, stated that “after many months of work, we celebrate the launch of the Magellan Discoverer, a milestone resulting from the talent and collaboration of two companies in southern Chile. This vessel marks a leap forward in sustainable engineering, positioning Asenav as a leading shipyard in the local maritime industry and placing Chile at the forefront of global innovation and design for vessels of this type. In just a few months, Antarctica21 will usher in a new era of polar exploration aboard a cruise ship unlike any other in the Americas.”

Since its steel cutting in February 2024, the shipyard took 624 days to complete 90 percent of the cruise ship's structure, a task involving more than 500 people, including Asenav employees and contractors. Now, the Magellan Discoverer will enter its final construction phase, focused primarily on outfitting work, such as deck installation, systems configuration, and interior finishes, before open sea trials.

For his part, Jaime Vásquez, president of Antarctica21, commented that “this is a profoundly symbolic moment for us. With the launch of the Magellan Discoverer, we reaffirm our commitment to sustainable Antarctic tourism and innovation from southern Chile. This new ship not only represents a technological leap in sustainability, but also a reflection of national talent and what we are capable of achieving when we strive for excellence. We are proud to collaborate with Asenav on this project that unites cutting-edge engineering with a responsible vision of tourism in the most remote territory on the planet.”

The event was attended by national and regional authorities, including the national director of Sernatur, Cristóbal Benítez; the regional governor, Luis Cuvertino; the presidential delegate of Los Ríos, Jorge Alvial; the mayor of Valdivia, Carla Amtmann; the regional secretary of Economy, Development and Tourism, Alejandra Vásquez; the regional secretary of Public Works, Francisca Vergara; the maritime governor of Valdivia, Captain Alejandro Valenzuela; the port captain of Valdivia, Gonzalo Townsend; and the regional director of Sernatur Los Ríos, Juan Pablo Leiva.

The director of Sernatur Los Ríos highlighted the importance of this milestone for the region and its potential impact on national tourism development. “From the Calle Calle River in Valdivia, we are very pleased to have these types of tourism-friendly industries and hope to continue contributing to tourism development, both through the products we export to other parts of the world—in this case, those that will travel through Patagonia and Antarctica—and by strengthening all nautical activity in the Los Ríos Region, not only on its rivers, but also on its lakes and the sea, which is so vast for us,” stated Juan Pablo Leiva.

Magellan Discoverer: 100% Chilean Innovation and Engineering.
The Magellan Discoverer boasts a boutique, yacht-like style, measuring 94 meters in length, 17 meters in beam, and 30 meters in height. It has a capacity of 96 passengers and 67 crew members. However, for the air cruises offered by Antarctica21, under which this ship will operate, it is designed for a maximum of 76 passengers.

The cruise ship is equipped with an advanced hybrid-electric propulsion system, comprised of four powerful MAN generator sets totaling 4,800 ekW of power, and two ABB Azipods® electric thrusters with 360° maneuverability, which will facilitate navigation in areas with icebergs. Furthermore, this technology will allow for a more streamlined engine room configuration, eliminating the need for a full propulsion line and ultimately optimizing propulsion performance by removing any interposed mechanical parts.

It's worth mentioning that the alliance between Antarctica21 and Asenav has now produced its second sustainable vessel. The first was the Magellan Explorer cruise ship, currently operating with a low environmental impact in the southernmost region of the world. It was precisely for this vessel that the Valdivian shipyard received the AHK Sustainability Award for large companies in 2023, an award that recognized the naval project for its reduced carbon footprint and water treatment practices.

Source: SERNATUR.