Cruise Ship Sets Antarctic Record

The World, a private residential cruise ship, has broken the record for the most southerly navigation reaching 78°43•997´S and 163°41•421´W at the Bay of Whales in Antarctica’s Ross Sea. 

Carrying 145 residents and guests and 272 crew, the vessel claims the record for sailing the furthest south any vessel has ever sailed. The World achieved the record at 10:41hrs ship’s time (New Zealand time) on January 28, 2017. 

The World is a 43,188-ton private yacht commanded by Captain Dag H. Saevik. She is currently undertaking a 22-day expedition of the Ross Sea, including 12 days in Antarctica assisted by EYOS Expeditions led by Rob McCallum. Setting sail from Hobart, the cruise includes 12 days in Antarctica, timed to coincide with the peak of the Antarctic summer. 

Commenting on achieving a new record, Saevik said, “When we designed this remarkable expedition to the Ross Sea with our residents, that has taken two years of preparation, we hoped that with the right conditions we might be able to reach the ice shelf and set a new record for the most southerly navigation. This voyage of more than 5,000 nautical miles has taken us to the most isolated area of the world.

“Explorers like Amundsen, Shackleton and Scott have always been driven to explore the furthest boundaries. However, not many people get to travel to the end of the earth from their own home,” he said.

Few vessels have made the journey to this remote part of Antarctica. In February 2016, Heritage Expeditions’ Polar Class Expedition Vessel the Akademik Shokalskiy reported reaching 78°43.971’S. 

Launched in 2002, The World is the largest privately owned, residential yacht on earth with 165 luxury residences. Residents from 19 countries and including 142 families own the homes on board the 644-foot (196-meter) ship that circumnavigates the globe every two to three years following an itinerary that they select. The average occupancy at any one time is 150-200 residents and guests.

The vision behind The World was to create a way in which travelers never had to disembark. They could sail for as long as they wished from the comfort of their own private residence. Construction of the vessel began in May 2000 in Rissa, Norway, and in March 2002 The World set sail from Oslo with its inaugural residents on board. Her maiden voyage departed from Lisbon, Portugal, and she was christened in Venice, Italy. On September 30, 2003 the residents purchased the ship, and in June 2006, the original inventory of residences was sold out. 

The World was the first ship of her size to burn marine diesel oil rather than heavy fuel oil.

Management Company: ROW Management, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is responsible for sales, marketing, operations and administration of The World.

Flag: Bahamas

Principal Dimensions
Tonnage:  43,188 gross tons
Length: 644.2 ft. (196.35m)
Beam: 97.8 ft. (29.8m)
Draft: 22 ft. (7.05m)
Decks: 12
Maximum speed: 18.5 knots