MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Mare Australis” opened cruise season in Ushuaia

Cruise 'Mare Australis'

Last Tuesday Ushuaia, in Argentine Tierra del Fuego, declared the 2008/09 cruise season officially inaugurated with the arrival of Chilean flagged “Mare Australis”, reports the local press.

With 105 passengers and 46 crew members Mare Australis docked early dawn Tuesday, the first of an estimated 380 to 400 cruise calls that are expected this summer in the capital of Tierra del Fuego which has become the main tourist port of Argentina. The 2.600 tons, 63 meters long "Mare Australis" left from Puerto Navarino in Chile carrying mostly Chilean tourists abut also a few Australian and Americans. Relatively small with 63 cabins Mare Australis specializes in Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego, Cape Horn cruises. Comfortable lounges accommodate naturalist talks and gatherings, while a spacious open air terrace on the uppermost deck is ideal for enjoying the spectacular Patagonian scenery, according to Chilean tour operators. The vessel was built according to SOLAS 2001 and MARPOL 73/78 updated standards for worldwide oceanic navigation. The International Maritime Organization has issued a Safety Management Certification, guaranteeing international safety standards as well as high standards of environmental protection. Mare Australis features echo sounder, radar, GPS and integration with the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System. There is an emergency generator, fire stations, smoke detectors in each cabin and a sprinkler fire suppression system throughout the ship.