![Greg Mortimer (Photo: SunStone Ships)](http://media.assettype.com/bairdmaritime%2Fimport%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F200325-3-CMHI.jpg?w=480&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max)
China Merchants Heavy Industry (CMHI) has cut the first steel for the expedition cruise ship Sylvia Earle at its facilities in Haimen.
The 104- by 18-metre, 130-passenger vessel will be a near identical sister of Greg Mortimer (pictured), which was delivered by CMHI to SunStone Ships in September 2019.
Like Greg Mortimer, Sylvia Earle will be operated by Australia-based Aurora Expeditions.