Environmental work by Ship Operators in Polar Regions

Alex Burridge – Antarctica Travel Centre

Here we take a brief look at some of the ongoing work on-board Sylvia Earle, Douglas Mawson and Greg Mortimer.  This is not to say that other ships/operators are not also looking at ways to reduce emissions, and operate in as environmentally sensitive way as possible, as they are (e.g. several operators now have XBow hull ships and virtual anchoring). It’s simply an example of the work being done to try to reduce emissions, reduce waste and limit environmental damage as well as to source responsibly produced food.

This is a quote from the operator:

‘We operate in some of the most climate-sensitive places on Earth. From the polar regions to the tropics, these ecosystems are rich in biodiversity.

Visiting them is a privilege, and it carries responsibility.’

To me it is important to work with responsible partners, partners who invest in the safe future of Polar travel.

It’s a reality that simple solutions to minimise fuel emissions are not going to be easy to achieve – and on-going trials are the only way to realise such goals.

One good example:

In 2025, the M/V Sylvia Earle became the first Infinity class vessel to trial Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), a biofuel made entirely from waste cooking oil (I made the joke to my team that the ship was followed by a flock of gulls). Over several days, the ship operated on 100% HVO. According to the fuel’s sustainability documentation, this achieved an approximate 90% reduction in fuel-related emissions compared with standard marine fuel. While availability and cost remain barriers, the trial provided valuable insights that will inform future trials and help accelerate adoption.

I am aware of other trials being conducted on other ships to similarly reduce emissions.

TECHNOLOGY

New ships, new technology;

All three ships have an Ulstein X BOW® which reduce fuel consumption.  They have virtual anchoring to avoid damage to delicate marine habitats and selective catalytic reduction to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.

In 2026 all three ships will be adding microfibre filters which capture 99% of microplastics from onboard washing machines. Used filters are returned to Cleaner Seas for recycling.

XBow Douglas Mawson

New technology being developed

A Sydney university has designed a device that is being trialled on-board Douglas Mawson which offers route optimisation; in simple terms it helps adjust the course of the ship to utilise sea currents and calmer seas – which improves efficiency (it’s possible/likely this new technology will be used globally across all shipping).

Farm to Plate 

Some changes are simply decisions; on these ships they’ve decided they’ll no longer serve salmon (due to concerns over salmon farming practices), or fish roe (caviar) to protect fish life cycles.  In Argentina they are meeting with the food producers (vegetables and meat) to ensure not only good quality but also that sustainably produced products are sourced and served on-board.