I am a vessel of exploration, bound for the icy embrace of the Antarctic. My namesake sailed the Southern Seas centuries before, and my modern mission seeks to unlock the secrets of the frozen continent. I am equipped with advanced scientific instruments and a reinforced hull to brave the treacherous waters.

1. I am named after a British explorer.
2. My primary mission is scientific research in Antarctica.
3. I am an icebreaker or ice-strengthened vessel.
4. I am relatively modern, built in the late 20th or early 21st century.