Two expedition cruise ships were involved in a minor docking incident at the port of Ushuaia, Argentina, on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, after severe weather conditions affected operations at the harbor.

The expedition vessels Viking Octantis and World Voyager made contact at the port of Ushuaia, as severe weather conditions impacted the harbor.

According to local reports, strong winds caused the mooring lines of World Voyager to fail, allowing the ship to drift away from the pier. The vessel’s bow subsequently struck the stern of Viking Octantis, which was berthed at a neighboring position. Video footage circulating in local media captured the moment of the collision, which occurred during stormy conditions.

Port officials and ship crews conducted immediate inspections following the incident. Initial assessments found only minor, cosmetic damage to both vessels, with no structural issues identified. As a result, the current Antarctic expedition schedules were not affected.

Two days after the incident, both ships departed Ushuaia as planned and are now en route through the Drake Passage toward Antarctica to continue their respective voyages.

An investigation into the circumstances of the incident is expected to be carried out by the operators in cooperation with local authorities. World Voyager is owned by Mystic Cruises and operated commercially by Atlas Ocean Voyages, while Viking Octantis is part of the expedition fleet of Viking Ocean Cruises. Authorities are expected to review the mooring arrangements and weather conditions at the time of the incident as part of the inquiry.

The Antarctic cruise season is currently at its peak, with multiple expedition ships departing regularly from Ushuaia. Both World Voyager and Viking Octantis primarily cater to English-speaking guests and play a significant role in the region’s growing expedition cruise market.