The "Spirit of Enderby" is a sister ship to the "Akademik Shokalskiy" which Heritage Expeditions of Christchurch had operated for 10 seasons up to the end of the 2003-04 season. Her registered name is  "Professor Khromov". She was built in 1984 and refurbished in Lyttelton in 2004 before commencing tourist work. She carries 48 passengers and is equipped with several naiads, all terrain vehicles and for Antarctic work also carries a helicopter.

Above can be seen the name of the vessel   while in the picture at right we can see two naiad rigid inflatable craft being loaded at Lyttelton.

Note: this Polarogramme has a attractive ships cachet at top left applied in blue.

Note: this envelope bears a different oval ships cachet struck in green

Note: The above envelope has a boxed Heritage Expeditions cachet plus a Lyttelton Port sticker.

The envelope has been autographed by the master of the "Spirit of Enderby", Captain Nikolay Vinogradov who is shown at left in his chart room signing one of the above envelopes.

Final outfitting before departure from Lyttelton. The first voyage was scheduled to depart Bluff and return to Dunedin via the route as shown at right.

"Spirit of Enderby" entering Otago Harbour on 11th December, 2004 with Taiaroa Lighthouse in background.

"Spirit of Enderby" passing Taiaroa Heads and the famous Royal Albatross Colony at left as the vessel passes up the harbour towards Port Chalmers and Dunedin

Passing Port Chalmers Hill into the Uppper Harbour.

Berthing at Dunedin Wharf during a southerly squall on 11th December, 2004

Note: Cover is franked with Russian stamps which it was entitled to use as the vessel's registered home port is Vladivostok in Russia. Postmarked with the rarely seen Dunedin paquebot postmark.

Note: this envelope bears Australian Antarctic stamps which it was entitled to use as the last official port of call (Macquarie Island) had been Australian Territory.

The "Spirit of Enderby" departed Dunedin the following day, 12th December 2004 on its second voyage with its route as shown at left.

Note; The above postcard (picture side shown at right) has been autographed by the ships master, Captain Nikolay Vinogradov who has also applied his company's ship cachet.

After being postmarked at Macquarie Island the postcard also has received a faint Hobart machine cancellation of February 9th, 2005.

The above envelope has been autographed by Captain Vinogradov on the back as shown at left. He has also applied the vessels official ships cachet.

Note; This envelope has also been signed on its back by Captain Vinogradov in an identical fashion to the previous envelope. It has a different cachet on the front and Australian stamps with Tasmanian themes.

The back of the above envelope is shown at left. it shows Captain Vinogradov's autograph and the ships cachet.

Note: This postcard has a Chatham Islands stamp affixed. The picture side shows the same Southern Elephant Seal view as per item "Enderby 9".