HX Expeditions Wraps Up Arctic Season with Record Science Output and AI Trials
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HX Expeditions concluded an Arctic season that coincided with the company's 130th anniversary, marked by a record in scientific data collection. The operator carried out 31 Arctic voyages, logged 26,491 citizen science contributions, and ran 363 science boat sessions that connected guests with on-the-ground research. The season also featured a pioneering artificial intelligence trial for whale detection aboard the vessel Fram.
Citizen Science Across Nine Programs
The 26,491 citizen science submissions were spread across nine research programs: 23,518 iNaturalist observations, 1,286 ORCA records, 1,183 eBird submissions, 203 NASA GLOBE Cloud Observer reports, 181 Secchi disk readings, 73 Happywhale contributions, 38 harmful algal bloom observations, eight Aurorasaurus reports, and one Marine Debris Tracker entry. HX engages guests in at least two citizen science projects on every voyage.
Artificial Intelligence to Protect Whales
The AI WAVE (Whales and Arctic Vessels) project, developed together with Heriot-Watt University and marine monitoring specialist Seiche, deployed an Intelligent Visual Detection System aboard the Fram in a pioneering Arctic trial that combines thermal cameras, high-definition imagery, machine learning, and continuous monitoring. The trial began on the Fram's voyage from Dover to Svalbard and continued throughout the Arctic summer. The data gathered aims to train future AI-assisted species identification systems and automated alerts, which could anticipate the presence of narwhals, belugas, and bowhead whales and reduce the risk of collision.
Beach Cleanups with Diverging Figures
The season also included beach cleanups carried out by guests and crew. Cruise Industry News reported that 44 kg of waste were collected, while Maritime Executive and Seatrade Cruise cited a much higher figure of 308.44 kg collected over the course of the 363 science sessions.
New Courses and Extension of the Greenland Promise
HX also expanded its educational program with a new free course on Svalbard, developed together with the University of Tasmania, adding to previous courses on Alaska and Antarctica. The company plans to launch similar content for the Canadian Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, and the Northwest Passage in 2027. At the same time, HX announced the extension of its Greenland Promise through the end of the 2028 season, which allows guests to transfer to another expedition with an additional 20% Future Cruise Credit or request a full refund if the voyage is cancelled.
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