Our itinerary for the Ice Factory

The ice factory that is the Weddell Sea has become synonymous with the torturous northerly drift of Shackleton’s Endurance expedition. Images of massed pack ice and human hardship add to the legendary status of this inaccessible sea. The journey is described as a true exploratory voyage, heading into rarely-visited regions, the course determined by the weather and ice.

The plan is to make landfall at the South Shetland Islands at the northern tip of the Peninsula, before testing the limits of the sea ice by pushing south into the Weddell Sea. Along the way, we’ll celebrate a ‘white’ Christmas – but with a little more luxury than Shackleton experienced!

We aim to visit Snow Hill Island, base for the Heroic Age Nordenskjold expedition, and Seymour Island, where scientists are still finding fossils of giant penguins. We’ll head south among the islands of the western shore of the Weddell Sea, in search of a rumoured Emperor penguin colony, as we virtually back-track along the route the Endurance drifted.

Heading north, we hope to visit Paulet Island, site of one of the Peninsula’s largest penguin rookeries and we’ll attempt the notoriously difficult landing on Elephant Island, home for many months to the Endurance sailors.

The Ship

The Ioffe was built in Finland in 1989 as a state-of-the-art research vessel.

The 382 foot, 1A2 Ice Rated, ship has been converted to a very comfortable passenger vessel carrying 110 passengers, all in outside cabins. The ship has traveled to Antarctica for many years. There is a fleet of Zodiac inflatables onboard to transport passengers to the landing sites.

The Ioffe and it's sister ship, the Vavilov, are 2 of the most advanced research vessels afloat. The Ioffe is impressive and neat as a pin,..which is referred to as 'Bristol Condition' in sailing terms. The ship is operated by an Ausrtalian adventure travel company that has been in the business for 25 years.

Ship Specifications

Staff & Crew: 53

Guests: 110

Length: 117.04m

Breadth: 18.28 m

Draft: 6.09m

Propulsion: 5,000 KW diesel twin engine

Ice Class: KM*L1(1)A2, Canadian Type B

Cruising Speed: 14.5 knots in open water

"Ice is the beginning of Antarctica and ice is it´s end. As one moves from perimeter to interior, the proportion of ice relentlessly increases. Ice creates more ice, and ice defined ice"- Stephen Pyne.