The Solo Traveller
Your independence, passion, and lifelong memories.
Sustainability
Antarctica. Photographer: Dylan Shaw.
New electric ‘silent science boats’ aim to protect the fragile soundscape of the polar regions
By Tiffany West and Geoffrey Williams
Briefly …
A major new research partnership and the debut of HX Expeditions’ electric ‘silent science boats’ are reshaping how expedition cruise lines approach underwater noise pollution in the polar regions. As scientists map the acoustic impact of visiting vessels, operators are beginning to adopt cleaner, quieter technologies to protect the fragile soundscape that Arctic and Antarctic wildlife depend on.
Underwater noise pollution is one of the Arctic’s most urgent and least visible environmental pressures, and expedition cruise tourism is increasingly part of the conversation. As more vessels enter remote polar waters, scientists and Indigenous communities are calling for a deeper understanding of how this rising acoustic footprint affects marine mammals and the fragile polar ecology. These mammals, including narwhals, belugas, and bowhead whales, live in a world shaped almost entirely by sound, and any disruption to that sonic landscape can interfere with their feeding, communication, and migration.
In early 2025, a major collaborative initiative began to tackle this problem head-on. Oceans North, the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO), and researchers from The University of California San Diego launched a multi-year study aimed at mapping and measuring the underwater noise generated by expedition cruise ships. Backed by Canadian federal funding, the project will create detailed noise-prediction models and identify how vessel operations influence the soundscape in some of the Arctic’s most sensitive regions. Crucially, the science is being co-developed with Inuit resource managers to ensure that the findings support wildlife protection and community priorities.
Narwhal whales live in social groups called pods, and their tusks are not horns, but an overgrown, spiralled tooth that can grow up to nine feet long. Photographer: Corey Ford.
The work is already reshaping how the expedition cruise sector thinks about responsible tourism. AECO member vessels will test noise-reduction strategies under real operating conditions, with results feeding directly into marine spatial planning and long-term management decisions. The goal is not simply to document the problem but to provide cruise operators with practical, evidence-based ways to lessen their impact as traffic continues to grow. For a region where sound is survival, understanding and reducing the noise of visiting ships has become central to safeguarding the Arctic’s ecological and cultural integrity.
In 2003, as Arctic tourism expanded, eight operators joined forces to establish AECO. HX Expeditions, the world’s first and longest-running expedition cruise company, and a leading provider in Antarctica, was among the founding members. United in the commitment to safeguard the Arctic’s natural environment, wildlife, cultures and communities, AECO set out to establish a sustainable and responsible approach to tourism in the region.
Humpback whales feeding in Antarctica. Photographer: Rod Long.
As scientists work to understand and limit the acoustic impact of visiting vessels, some operators are already moving toward quieter, lower-impact technologies. HX Expeditions has announced the launch of two new ‘silent science boats’ powered by electricity and designed to minimise underwater noise pollution. The two new MK 5 vessels are fully electric and feature RAD Propulsion’s RAD 40 drive system, the most advanced electric drives on the market. They will now be found on two HX ships – the MS Fram and the hybrid-battery powered MS Fridtjof Nansen – where they will be used predominately for the ships’ science team, for guest science boats trips, and for guest scientists conducting research.
HX Expeditions’ Electric Zodiac and their hybrid-battery powered MS Fridtjof Nansen. Image courtesy HX Expeditions.
As part of HX’s commitment to scientific integrity, environmental stewardship, and lower-impact exploration, the introduction of electric Zodiacs marks a major step toward phasing out traditional petroleum-based engines. These vessels enable silent discovery in remote destinations such as Antarctica, giving guests a rare opportunity to observe and study marine life with minimal disturbance.
HX Expeditions’ Electric Zodiac. Image courtesy HX Expeditions.
“Sound pollution is one of the most underestimated environmental impacts in these polar regions,” Dr Verena Meraldi, Chief Scientist at HX told The Solo Traveller. “For wildlife under the surface, especially whales, noise can mean the difference between thriving and struggling. With these silent boats added to our hybrid-electric ships, we’re reducing our environmental footprint in the places that need it most.”
Dr Ari Friedlaender, renowned Marine Scientist and one of the HX Guest Scientists, added “Conducting research from HX’s new electric Zodiacs will transform the way I can study whales in Antarctica. The silence of these vessels allows us to approach wildlife with far less disturbance, making our observations more natural. It’s a game-changer for science in these remote environments.”
The RAD 40 power consoles for the MK 5 vessels enables fully electric operation in some of the world’s most sensitive and remote environments. Image courtesy HX Expeditions.
Sam Pickering, Head of Products at RAD Propulsion added “We’re proud to supply our RAD 40 power consoles for the MK 5 vessels, enabling fully electric operation in some of the world’s most sensitive and remote environments. Supporting clean, quiet operations in protected regions reflects our commitment to developing advanced marine propulsion systems that reduce environmental impact while delivering reliable, high-performance solutions.”
HX Chief Operating Officer Iain McNeill concluded “This marks the beginning of a fleet-wide transformation. The long-term goal is to fully replace traditional combustion engine zodiacs with clean, electric alternatives across the HX fleet.”
Tiffany West is The Solo Traveller’s Editorial and Pictorial Assistant Lead, and Geoffrey Williams is The Solo Traveller Group’s Founder and Publishing Curator. This feature includes information provided by international news agencies and public relations representatives, published here with editorial oversight. You can read The Solo Traveller’s editorial policy regarding external sources here.