Chilean shipbuilder ASENAV has sent the new expedition cruise ship Magellan Discoverer from its shipyard in Corral, near Valdivia, for sea trials ahead of delivery and entry into service on 15 Dec 2026. Built for operator Antarctica21, the 5,258-GT, 94-metre vessel took approximately 33 months to construct and is described as the first hybrid-electric expedition cruise ship built in the Americas. It departed for trials on 26 Oct 2026 and is scheduled to sail to Punta Arenas before beginning commercial operations. The ship's hybrid-electric propulsion system uses ABB's Onboard DC Grid platform to combine generator power with a Corvus Energy battery storage system. Two MAN main engines and generator sets deliver a combined 4,800 ekW to two ABB Azipod units, supporting a 14-knot service speed and up to 60 days of operation without refuelling. Additional efficiency features include an exhaust-heat recovery system, regenerative elevator technology, and a Vessel Performance Management System using around 100 sensors to monitor energy use and navigation. Magellan Discoverer can carry up to 96 passengers, though Antarctica21 will limit capacity to 88 for its Antarctic fly-cruise operations, supported by 67 crew and staff. The reinforced hull can break ice up to 80 centimetres thick, and the vessel holds a Polar Class PC6 rating and IMO Tier III certification. Facilities include a lounge and dining room, observation deck, library and expedition preparation area. The order was placed in 2023 following ASENAV's 2019 delivery of Magellan Explorer, with steel cutting in February 2024 and hull launch in October 2025. The vessel cost approximately US$90 million. ASENAV General Manager Fernando Rodríguez and Antarctica21 President Jaime Vásquez both highlighted the project's engineering advances and reduced environmental impact for polar tourism.