Aurora Expeditions joined forces with Australian climate technology company CounterCurrent to have its pioneering AI-powered navigation system aboard Douglas Mawson.
The 154-passenger Douglas Mawson, Aurora Expeditions’ third purpose-built ship which is scheduled to enter service in December, will have a CounterCurrent sensor on board throughout the 2025-26 Antarctica season.
Real-time data
It will capture real-time wind, wave and ocean-current data from some of the world’s most remote waters.
The data will feed into global climate and weather models, improving forecasting accuracy worldwide, while supporting safer, more efficient and lower-emission navigation across the maritime industry.
‘Planning safe, efficient and lower-emission shipping routes relies on good data and an understanding of ocean currents,’ said Aurora’s sustainability manager, Sasha Buch. ‘But in polar regions, real-time data is scarce.’
Filling critical gaps
Buch continued, ‘Through our collaboration with CounterCurrent and the Polar Citizen Science Collective, we are helping fill critical data gaps in the Southern Ocean, contributing to a smarter, cleaner future for maritime travel, one where every voyage improves the next.’