Farthest South: Breaking Records and Setting the Standard in the Wake of Polar Greats – Oceanwide Expeditions
On 26 February 2025, M/V Ortelius made history, becoming the first non-icebreaker passenger ship to reach 78°03.471’S – the southernmost point ever recorded by a vessel of its kind in the Weddell Sea.
The achievement was more than a navigational milestone. It marked a rare moment in modern polar exploration: an expedition awash with daring, flexibility and a tangible thirst for adventure at the farthest corners of the navigable map.
“This is probably the closest to a true expedition that you’ll ever come,” remarks Sara Jenner, the expedition leader aboard Ortelius during this voyage.
Reaching the historic coordinates was a moment of immense relief, having navigated the notoriously unpredictable Weddell Sea. Much to her surprise, on this occasion, everything aligned.
“(that day) was one of the most phenomenal weather days,” Jenner recalls with excitement. “We completed helicopter landings and sea ice landings, encountered emperor penguins and were treated to the amazing sunrise and sunset.”
Wildlife aside, this was truly a day of operational triumphs.
“It was much more special to me that we could actually get people off the ship,” Sara continues. “The weather didn’t stop us, which you could expect at 78 degrees south. That day, everything just aligned perfectly.”
(Farthest South: Breaking Records and Setting the Standard in the Wake of Polar Greats – Oceanwide Expeditions)
