In early February 2026, the ice-strengthened expedition vessel m/v Ortelius established a new benchmark for the southernmost latitude attained by a non-icebreaker passenger ship in Antarctica’s Weddell Sea. On February 5, she was recorded at 78°05.60′ South in Vahsel Bay, exceeding her own record of 78°03.471′ South set during the previous season, according to Oceanwide Expeditions’ operational reports.
The Weddell Sea, a remote expanse of Antarctic waters noted for dense, shifting pack ice and severe weather conditions, has long challenged mariners and explorers; it was the setting for Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition in the early twentieth century. Navigation through these waters tests both vessel capability and crew expertise, and Ortelius’s ice-class design permits her to venture into latitudes few commercial ships reach.
This southerly accomplishment occurred during the 27-night Remote Weddell Sea Explorer voyage, an itinerary that retraces elements of Shackleton’s historic route and includes landings in seldom-visited areas such as Queen Maud Land at the eastern reaches of the Weddell Sea. The latitude attained reflects both the vessel’s polar navigation capabilities and the experience of the crew and expedition staff in operating in one of the harshest marine environments on Earth.
The repeated surpassing of its own record positions Ortelius and her operator among the few commercial expeditions capable of penetrating deep into Antarctic waters, expanding the geographic limits of non-icebreaker navigation and extending the scope of high-latitude exploration voyages offered to passengers.