Adventure cruise line Aurora Expeditions announced it will be launching its second expedition ship, the Sylvia Earle on October 21.

She’ll be able to accommodate 126 passengers and she will be the second in the fleet with the special X-BOW, just like her sister ship, the Greg Mortimer.

Named after the famous marine biologist Sylvia Earle, the ship will also have a two-level glass atrium and will also have expansive observation decks and immersive communal areas.

“Ninety-seven percent of Earth’s water is ocean,” said Dr Sylvia Earle.

“It is our life support system and we need to learn everything we can about it. I see great synergy in working closely with a company that shares my vision for the future and which is, from the top down, passionate about the marine environment. Through travelling with Aurora Expeditions on the Sylvia Earle, I feel it is an incredible opportunity for people to learn about these marine habitats in situ, and as a result, become ambassadors for protecting them.”

Aurora Expeditions Managing Director Robert Halfpenny said: “We are proud to be working with Sylvia on plans for the new ship. Our ships are designed primarily to connect people with the environment and everything Sylvia does encapsulates what lies at the core of Aurora Expeditions own beliefs and practices.”

“In keeping with Sylvia’s own vision and achievements, the Sylvia Earle will have a large focus on marine education and conservation.”

The ship will launch on October 2021 in Ushuaia, Argentina, bound for an Antarctica cruise.