With a goal of marrying European design and quality with Chinese ship-building efficiency, the INFINITY-class delivers cutting-edge design, innovations like X-bow technology, and significant operating efficiencies.

SunStone CEO, Niels-Erik Lund, commented, “We are very pleased with the quality and high building standards of China Merchants Heavy Industry, which are fully at the level of European Shipyards.  We are looking forward to continuing our relationships with all our partners in the Infinity-class project and we, even considering the COVID-19 world crisis, are moving fast forward as planned at very satisfactory speed, safety and quality level.”

The Launching Ceremony of the SYLVIA EARLE (CMHI 196-2) took place at China Merchant Heavy Industries in Haimen, China. The Vessel is chartered to Aurora Expeditions on a year-round long-term charter.

INFINITY Class Vessels are 104 meters long, and 18 meters wide, having a draft of 5.1 meters. They feature a passenger capacity between 130-200 and a crew capacity between 85 and 115. The Vessels are Ice Class 1A, Polar Code 6 and are being built with Safe Return to Port, Dynamic Positioning and Zero Speed Stabilizers. The Vessels are featuring the X-Bow® by Ulstein Design & Solutions. They are small enough to give an exclusive atmosphere and yet large enough to yield all expected services and facilities such as a swimming pool, bar and restaurants, lounges, boutique, gym and spa.

Current INFINITY Class new-builds under way after the delivery of GREG MORTIMER are; the OCEAN VICTORY, the OCEAN EXPLORER and SYLVIA EARLE with delivery in 2021, the OCEAN ODYSSEY and OCEAN ALBATROS with delivery in 2022 and the OCEAN DISCOVERER with delivery in 2023. All vessels ordered have long-term charter agreements in place.

Read more https://www.aurora-expeditions.com/ship/sylvia-earle/