Scenic Eclipse II christened by NASA astronaut Dr. Kathryn Sullivan

The former NASA astronaut, Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, christened Scenic Eclipse II in Malaga on June 3.

The event featured addresses from Glen Moroney, the Founder and Chairman of Scenic Group, Carlos Rubio, the president of the Málaga Port Authority, Victor Gonzalez, the Deputy Minister for Tourism, and Dr. Sullivan. Rubio presented a unique plaque to Moroney during the occasion, as stated in a press release.

Dr. Kathryn Sullivans said, “I was so honoured to be asked to be godmother of Scenic Eclipse II as it was not something I ever expected,” said Sullivan. “But now that I have had the opportunity to tour the ship with Glen and Karen Moroney and hear their story and see their vision for travel, I am eager to join her for a sailing. Seeing the level of luxury that is possible in what is truly an expedition vessel has me wondering what the Moroneys could do with the rather restrictive confines of the space shuttle and the super-cramped environment of the submersible we used to dive the Mariana Trench.”

The founder of Scenic Group gave a speech during the event, mentioning, “It is rare to find anyone who has the list of unprecedented accomplishments achieved by Dr. Kathy Sullivan. “The depth of her experiences above our planet, and on and below our seas, and her incredible passion for exploration is truly inspiring and is what we feel makes her the perfect representation of our newest Scenic Eclipse Discovery Yacht. Although we are not able to duplicate some of her more extreme adventures – yet – we do believe that Scenic Eclipse II offers our guests exploration possibilities unlike any in the industry. We are so honored to have Dr. Sullivan as the Godmother of Scenic Eclipse II and look forward to a long and fruitful relationship.”

Scenic Eclipse II closely resembles its partner, Scenic Eclipse, with minor differences in technological adaptations designed to navigate and operate in protected marine regions such as the Antarctic. These changes enclose various innovative elements, including dedicated wastewater treatment systems, customised stabilisers, and an Azipod propulsion system that enhances manoeuvrability, simultaneously diminishing noise, vibrations, and fuel consumption. Additionally, including a GPS dynamic positioning system eliminates the requirement to anchor the ship on ecologically delicate seabeds.