Chilean polar tour and cruise operator Antarctica XXI has joined the scrum of companies building expedition cruiseships with an order for a newbuilding at Valdivia-based Asenav.

Antarctica XXI revealed this week that Asenav will deliver the 4,800-gt Magellan Explorer in 2019.

The ship will have a capacity for 70 passengers and is being built to the International Maritime Organization's latest Polar Code specifications and carries a Polar Class 6 ice-class.