Antarctica21 has taken delivery of Magellan Discoverer, the Chilean-built hybrid-electric expedition ship that will make its Antarctic debut in December.
The handover followed the completion of registration, provisioning and final preparations on 30 October 2026. Magellan Discoverer is now travelling to Punta Arenas, where Antarctica21 plans to christen the vessel on 6 November — Chile's Day of Antarctica.
Its sold-out inaugural expedition is scheduled to depart Punta Arenas on 15 December. The nine-night celebratory voyage will combine Southern Chile with Antarctica, beginning the career of a ship designed specifically around the operator's small-group fly-cruise model.
A major milestone for Chilean shipbuilding
Magellan Discoverer was designed and constructed by ASENAV at Valdivia in southern Chile. The project took approximately 33 months and represented an investment of about US$90 million, according to the shipyard.
More than 500 workers, subcontractors and specialists were involved in the build. ASENAV and Antarctica21 describe the vessel as the first hybrid-electric polar cruise ship built in the Americas, giving its completion importance beyond the addition of another expedition vessel.
The ship left ASENAV on 26 October and sailed to Corral Bay for its final sea trials. Those tests completed the technical programme before the formal delivery and departure towards Punta Arenas.
Antarctica21 previously worked with the same Chilean yard on Magellan Explorer, which entered service in 2019. Magellan Discoverer builds on that partnership with a larger guest capacity and a more advanced propulsion and energy-management system.
Magellan Discoverer combines diesel-electric power with batteries
The 94-metre vessel uses a hybrid-electric arrangement that combines diesel generators, electrical propulsion and battery energy storage. Its four MAN generator sets provide a combined 4,800 ekW, while two ABB Azipod units deliver propulsion and 360-degree manoeuvrability.
A battery-based energy storage system can absorb and supply power as operating conditions change. The design is intended to run the generating plant more efficiently, reduce fuel consumption and emissions, and limit underwater noise in the environmentally sensitive regions where the ship will operate.
Magellan Discoverer is designed to meet the International Maritime Organization's Tier III emissions requirements. ASENAV also lists heat recovery, energy-management technology and other efficiency measures among the vessel's environmental features.
The ship is not being presented as a zero-emission vessel. Its batteries support and optimise the diesel-electric installation rather than replacing the engines for an entire voyage, an important distinction when assessing the environmental claims associated with hybrid ships.
PC6 hull is designed for polar operations
Magellan Discoverer has a PC6 polar classification, a reinforced hull and a strengthened bow for operations in ice-covered waters. ASENAV says the vessel has been designed for ice up to 80 centimetres thick, although it is an expedition cruise ship rather than a conventional icebreaker.
The ship measures 17.2 metres across the beam, has a draft of approximately 4.3 metres and a published cruising speed of 14 knots. A claimed autonomy of up to 60 days gives it the range needed for remote itineraries where port infrastructure and replenishment opportunities are limited.
Its compact dimensions are intended to support close-to-shore expedition operations while providing greater stability and interior space than a converted or smaller polar vessel.
Up to 88 guests on Antarctic air-cruises
Antarctica21 will accommodate up to 88 guests aboard Magellan Discoverer during its Antarctic air-cruise programmes. Capacity can rise to 96 guests on conventional sea voyages, with up to 67 crew and expedition staff supporting the operation.
The difference reflects the logistics of Antarctica21's established fly-cruise model. Guests ordinarily fly between Punta Arenas and King George Island, boarding their expedition ship in Antarctica instead of sailing both ways across the Drake Passage.
That approach reduces the amount of time spent reaching the Antarctic Peninsula and can make a polar expedition practical within a shorter holiday. It also requires close coordination between aircraft, landing conditions, expedition teams and the vessel.
Magellan Discoverer's inaugural 15–24 December voyage is described as a special journey through Southern Chile and Antarctica. Later programmes will include the operator's regular Antarctic air-cruise itineraries.
A boutique expedition ship built around observation
The new ship has been conceived as a small luxury expedition vessel rather than a large conventional cruise ship. Public areas include a forward-facing observation lounge, dining room, bar, library and dedicated spaces where guests can prepare for landings and wildlife excursions.
Wide exterior decks and observation areas are intended to keep the landscape central to the experience. The onboard expedition infrastructure supports the use of Zodiac boats and the transfer of guests ashore, subject to local conditions and environmental rules.
Accommodation and public rooms use a contemporary design influenced by Patagonia and the Southern Ocean. The relatively low passenger count is also significant in Antarctica, where landing-site limits can affect how quickly groups are able to go ashore.
Christening planned for Chile's Day of Antarctica
Antarctica21 has deliberately scheduled the naming ceremony for 6 November, observed in Chile as the Day of Antarctica. The event in Punta Arenas will connect the new ship with the country that designed, financed and built it, and with the southern city from which the operator runs its air-cruise programme.
Punta Arenas is a key Antarctic gateway and the logistical centre of Antarctica21's operation. Magellan Discoverer's arrival will therefore mark both the end of the construction phase and the beginning of final preparations for its first passengers.
The delivery keeps the ship on course for its December debut. As with any newly completed expedition vessel, its published programme remains subject to final operational preparations, weather and the demanding conditions associated with Antarctic travel.
When was Magellan Discoverer delivered?
Antarctica21 completed the takeover, registration and provisioning of Magellan Discoverer on 30 October 2026 after final sea trials off southern Chile.
When will Magellan Discoverer be christened?
The ship is scheduled to be christened in Punta Arenas on 6 November 2026, Chile's Day of Antarctica.
When is the maiden voyage?
The sold-out inaugural expedition is due to depart Punta Arenas on 15 December 2026 and return on 24 December after visiting Southern Chile and Antarctica.
How many passengers can Magellan Discoverer carry?
The ship will carry up to 88 guests on Antarctic air-cruises and up to 96 on sea voyages. Antarctica21 lists a complement of up to 67 expedition staff and crew.
Who built Magellan Discoverer?
Magellan Discoverer was designed and built in Valdivia, Chile, by the ASENAV shipyard for Antarctica21.
Is Magellan Discoverer fully electric?
No. It is a hybrid-electric vessel using diesel generators, electric propulsion and battery energy storage. The batteries help manage power demand and improve efficiency but do not replace the engines throughout an expedition.
Sources: Antarctica21 ship profile; Antarctica21 inaugural expedition listing; ASENAV project information; Cruise Industry News delivery report.