Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV) has classified the ‘Douglas Mawson’, a 200-passenger expedition cruise ship, specifically designed for polar exploration in the Antarctic and Arctic, and built by China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu) (CMHI) for SunStone Maritime Group: the seventh in the Infinity-Class series.
As part of SunStone’s low-carbon strategy, the vessel – equipped with an electric propulsion system – combines excellent environmental performance and efficiency through its Tier III-compliant design in accordance with Marpol Annex VI, set to further advance standards in environmentally responsible expedition cruising.
With an overall length of 100.4m and a width of 18m, the vessel can carry 200 passengers and 100 crew, and is equipped with two electric motor–driven propellers. Crucially, in compliance with the Safe Return to Port (SRtP) requirements of Solas, the vessel is capable of operating safely with just one propellor, should the other fail.
BV has played a crucial role in supporting the ship’s compliance with international safety regulations, including the USCG Initial Certificate of Compliance (ICOC) examination, a mandatory requirement before the vessel enters a US port as a foreign-flagged passenger ship. The Solas Passenger Ship Safety Certificate has also been issued following this assessment.
BV has provided plan approval and survey services throughout the design and construction phases to verify compliance with SRtP requirements. Typically reserved for vessels over 120m in length or with three or more main fire zones, the application of these standards in the Douglas Mawson demonstrates a proactive approach to passenger safety. BV’s involvement included design evaluations and participation in dedicated technical workshops.
Critically, the Douglas Mawson features Ulstein Design & Solutions’ (UDS) patented X-Bow hull design which is intended to significantly reduce wave resistance and vessel motion, delivering smoother and more efficient operations in harsh conditions.
Built to Polar Class 6 standards, the Douglas Mawson includes 80 guest cabins. It was designed by UDS, in partnership with Aurora Expeditions.
Matthieu de Tugny, BV EVP Industrials and Commodities, said: “The Douglas Mawson represents another step forward in our collaboration with SunStone and CMHI. Bureau Veritas supported the project across all stages, from design review to final delivery, helping to address technical requirements related to safety, environmental performance, and regulatory compliance. The vessel’s completion reflects our continued involvement in the development of sustainable and compliant passenger ships.”
Image: BV class for Ulstein-designed eco-cruise ship ‘Douglas Mawson’ (credit: Ulstein Design & Solutions)
