View source for MV Explorer (1969)

{{Short description|Antarctic Ocean cruise ship, sunk in 2007}}
{{other ships|MS Explorer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=MS-Explorer-2005-1.jpg
|Ship caption=MS ''Explorer'' in January 2005
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship name=*1969–1985: ''Lindblad Explorer''
*1985–1992: ''Society Explorer''<ref name="World">Possibly also named MS ''World Explorer'' after 1985</ref>
*1992–2007: ''Explorer''
|Ship owner=*1969–1972: K/S A/S Explorer & Co, Oslo, Norway
*1972–1980: [[Swedish American Line]], Gothenburg, Sweden
*1980–1982: Lindblad Swire Cruises, Panama
*1982–1983: Salén AB, Stockholm, Sweden
*1983–1985: Ferry Services Curacao NV, Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles
*1985–1992: Discoverer Reederei GmbH, Germany
*1992–2003: Explorer Shipping, Monrovia, Liberia
*2003–2004: Kyris Shipping Ltd., Monaco
*2004–2007: [[G.A.P. Shipping]], Bahamas
|Ship operator=
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=Uudenkaupungin Telakka, [[Uusikaupunki]], Finland
|Ship yard number=
|Ship laid down= 1969
|Ship launched= 14 December 1969
|Ship completed=
|Ship christened= 
|Ship renamed= 
|Ship acquired=
|Ship in service=1969–2007
|Ship out of service= 23 November 2007
|Ship registry=*{{flagicon|Norway}} [[Oslo]] (1969–72)
*{{flagicon|Panama}} [[Panama City]] (1972–89)
*{{flagicon|Liberia}} [[Monrovia]] (1989–2007) 
|Ship fate= Sank after hitting an [[iceberg]] on 23 November 2007 at {{coord|62|24|S|57|16|W}}
|Ship identification=*{{IMO Number|6924959}}
*Liberian Official Number 8495<ref name=Report/>
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class=
|Ship tonnage= 2398
|Ship displacement=
|Ship length= {{convert|239|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam= {{convert|46|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship height=
|Ship draught= {{convert|14|ft|7|in|m|2|abbr=on}}
|Ship draft=
|Ship depth=
|Ship ice class=ICE-1A (as per BNV, equals Finnish-Swedish IA)<ref name=Report/>
|Ship sail plan=
|Ship power=
|Ship propulsion= 2 × [[Maschinenbau Kiel|MaK]] diesel M452 AK each {{convert|1800|bhp|abbr=on}}, driving a single variable-pitch propeller, 4 blades
|Ship auxiliary propulsion= 3 × MWM TBD 604 L6, 290&nbsp;kW Alternators: Type: 3 × generators Still DK 559 D-4 325&nbsp;kVA. 1 × MWM emergency diesel AD 323 V6. 1 × emergency generator Still DK 367-4/43 + KO 02/325 80&nbsp;kVA. All generators 3 phase 440&nbsp;V. {{convert|350|hp|abbr=on}} bow thruster.
|Ship speed= {{convert|12.5|kn}}
|Ship capacity= 104 passengers
|Ship crew= 54 
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

'''MS ''Explorer''''' or '''MV ''Explorer''''' was a Liberian-registered [[cruise ship]], the first vessel of that kind used specifically to sail the icy waters of the [[Antarctic Ocean]]. She was the first cruise ship to sink there,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2007/11/24/ST2007112400367.html|title=Cruise Ship Sinks Off Antarctica|last=Reel|first=Monte|date=24 November 2007|access-date=13 May 2010|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> after striking an [[iceberg]] on 23 November 2007. All passengers and crew were rescued.<ref name="CBS News">
{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/23/world/main3534814.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071125203812/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/23/world/main3534814.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 November 2007|title=154 Rescued From Sinking Ship in Antarctic: Passengers, Crew Boarding Another Ship After Wait In Lifeboats; No Injuries Reported|date=23 November 2007|access-date=23 November 2007|publisher=[[CBS News]]}}</ref> 

The ship was commissioned and operated by the [[Sweden|Swedish]] explorer [[Lars-Eric Lindblad]]. Its 1969 expeditionary cruise to [[Antarctica]] was the forerunner for today's sea-based [[Tourism in Antarctica|tourism]] in that region.<ref>[http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/living_and_working/diaries/rrs_james_clark_ross/antarctic2003_2004/13_27/index.php Mar 28 – Hump Day] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607103139/http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/living_and_working/diaries/rrs_james_clark_ross/antarctic2003_2004/13_27/index.php |date=7 June 2011 }}, British Antarctic Survey.</ref><ref>[http://www.iaato.org/tourism_overview.html Scope of Antarctic Tourism – A Background Presentation] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016194609/http://iaato.org/tourism_overview.html |date=16 October 2007 }}, IAATO official website.</ref> The vessel was originally named '''MS ''Lindblad Explorer''''' (until 1985), and '''MS ''Society Explorer''''' (until 1992). Ownership of the vessel changed several times, the last owner being the [[Toronto]]-based travel company [[G.A.P Adventures]] which acquired ''Explorer'' in 2004.<ref name="World"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Expeditions aboard the legendary M/S Explorer |url=http://www.gapadventures.com/explorer/ |publisher=G.A.P. Adventures |access-date=8 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070418013742/http://www.gapadventures.com/explorer/ |archive-date=18 April 2007}}</ref>

''Explorer'' was abandoned in the early hours of 23 November 2007 after taking on water near the [[South Shetland Islands]] in the [[Southern Ocean]], an area which is usually stormy but was calm at the time.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.aol.com/story/_a/doomed-ship-defies-antarctica-odds/20071123061209990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001 |title=Doomed Ship Defies Antarctica Odds |date=25 November 2007 |publisher=[[Reuters]] |access-date=28 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071127153727/http://news.aol.com/story/_a/doomed-ship-defies-antarctica-odds/20071123061209990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001 |archive-date=27 November 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''Explorer'' was confirmed by the [[Chilean Navy]] to have sunk at an approximate position of {{Coord|62|24|S|57|16|W|display=inline}}, between the South Shetlands and [[Antarctic Peninsula|Grahams Land]] in the [[Bransfield Strait]];<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.falklandnews.com/public/story.cfm?get=4760&source=3|title=MS Explorer – situation report|publisher=The Falkland Islands News|date=23 November 2007|access-date=24 November 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071125155650/http://www.falklandnews.com/public/story.cfm?get=4760&source=3|archive-date=25 November 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> where the depth is roughly 600&nbsp;m.<ref>[http://www.shippingtimes.co.uk/item947_explorer_sinking.htm MV Explorer Cruise Ship Sinking In South Atlantic], The Shipping Times, 23 November 2007</ref> The [[Royal Navy]] Antarctic Patrol Ship {{HMS|Endurance|A171|2}}, whilst carrying out a hydrographic survey for the [[British Antarctic Survey]] and at the request of the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]], later pinpointed ''Explorer''{{'s}} final resting place as {{Coord|62|24|17.57|S|57|11|46.49|W|display=inline}}, at an approximate depth of {{convert|1130|m}} – a distance of {{cvt|4373|m}} from her reported sinking position. This is broadly consistent with the direction of the prevailing current.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sgisland.org/pages/main/news55.htm#1 |title=Royal Navy Locates Antarctic Wreck of Cruise Liner |publisher=Fleet Media & Communication, Royal Navy |access-date=15 March 2008}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Deception-Tourists.jpg|thumb|right|Tourists at [[Deception Island]] (2006)]]

''Explorer'' was commissioned by Lars-Eric Lindblad, the Swedish-American pioneer of "exotic expedition" tours, and built in 1969 at Uudenkaupungin Telakka,<ref>{{langx|fi|Uudenkaupungin telakka}}</ref> a shipyard in [[Uusikaupunki]], Finland. The ship was built to stay afloat with two compartments filled with water. Her original [[Finnish-Swedish ice class]] was 1C, which is relatively weak. It is not known when the ice class was uprated to 1A.<ref>{{cite news | title = Explorer syntyi talvisodan hengessä| publisher = [[Aamulehti]] | date = 23 November 2007 | url = http://www.aamulehti.fi/uutiset/ulkomaat/55353.shtml |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071124141659/http://www.aamulehti.fi/uutiset/ulkomaat/55353.shtml |archive-date = 24 November 2007|language=fi}}</ref> The vessel was originally named ''Lindblad Explorer'', after Lars-Eric Lindblad, and was the first custom-built expeditionary cruise ship.

The first notable incident of the ''Explorer'' was when it ran aground near La Plaza Point, Antarctica, on 11 February 1972; her passengers, Lindblad among them, were rescued by the Chilean Navy.<ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9503EFDE133FF930A25754C0A962958260 Lars-Eric Lindblad, 67, Pioneer Of Tours to Exotic Destinations], The New York Times, 13 July 1994.</ref> She was towed to [[Buenos Aires]], Argentina, and then to [[Kristiansand]], Norway, for repairs.<ref>[http://members.shaw.ca/erik.langeland/Ships/PassengerShips/LindbladExplorer_1969.html Erik Langeland]</ref> After being renamed the ''Lindblad Explorer'', the ship ran aground off [[Wiencke Island]] in the Antarctic on 25 December 1979.<ref name=Times271279>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=125 taken off ship aground in Antarctic |date=27 December 1979 |issue=60509 |page=4 |column=G }}</ref> The 70 passengers and 34 of the crew were rescued by the Chilean Navy Antarctic transport {{ship|Chilean transport|Piloto Pardo||2}}, leaving the captain and a skeleton crew of 21 on board to await the arrival of a [[tugboat]].<ref>{{cite journal|editor1-last=Caffin|editor1-first=J.M.|title=Lindblad Explorer runs aground | journal=Antarctic | volume=9 | issue=1 |pages=35–36 | url=http://antarctic.org.nz/pdf/Antarctic/Antarctic.V9.1.1980.pdf|access-date=3 February 2016|quote="On her way back to Ushaia, Tierra del Fuego, where she was due on December 30, the Lindblad Explorer passed by Wiencke Island, which lies between Anvers Island and the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. She was off Cape Astrup at the north-eastern end of the island when she ran aground. A sunken rock with less than 1.8m of water over it lies about 402m north of the cape."}}</ref>

''Explorer'' was the first cruise ship to navigate the [[Northwest Passage]] in 1984. She was involved in the rescue of the crew of an Argentine [[cargo vessel|supply ship]] in 1989 that had hit a rock ledge off [[Anvers Island]], Antarctica.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article2928759.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517111839/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article2928759.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 May 2008 |title=Iceberg blamed as passengers flee holed ship in icy waters |access-date=28 November 2007 |date=24 November 2007 |work=[[The Times]] | location=London | first1=Will | last1=Pavia | first2=Hannah | last2=Strange | first3=James | last3=Bone}}</ref> In 1998 ''Explorer'' was the first ship to circumnavigate [[James Ross Island]];<ref name="BBC35">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7108835.stm |title=Cruise boat sinking off Argentina |access-date=23 November 2007 |date=23 November 2007 |publisher=[[BBC News]] }}</ref> and in the same year, was claimed to be the first ship, as distinct from river boat, to sail {{convert|80|mi|km}} above [[Iquitos]], Peru, to the point where the [[Marañón River|Marañón]] and [[Ucayali River|Ucayali]] rivers meet to become the [[Amazon River]].<ref>[http://www.eagle-eye.com/Locations/MV_Explorer.html M/S Explorer] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071125170547/http://www.eagle-eye.com/Locations/MV_Explorer.html |date=25 November 2007 }}</ref>

''Explorer'' was depicted on at least two postage stamps issued by [[South Georgia Island|South Georgia]], and one issued by the [[Falkland Islands]].<ref>[http://www.philatelie-polaire.com/nouveautes/georgie.htm Philatelie Polaire] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703151037/http://www.philatelie-polaire.com/nouveautes/georgie.htm |date=3 July 2007 }} South Georgia stamps.</ref><ref>[http://www.falklands.gov.fk/pb/sg/merchant-ships.htm Falkland Isles Stamp] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071128084951/http://www.falklands.gov.fk/pb/sg/merchant-ships.htm |date=28 November 2007 }}</ref> ''Explorer'' was nicknamed "the Little Red Ship".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7108835.stm#graphic|title=Stricken Antarctic ship evacuated|access-date=28 November 2007| work=BBC News | date=24 November 2007}}</ref> A scale model of ''Explorer'' is on display at [[Canterbury Museum, Christchurch]], [[New Zealand]].

==Sinking==
[[File:AntDotMap Livingston.png|thumb|left|Location of King George Island]]
[[File:King George island.jpg|thumb|right|Map showing location of sinking]]
[[File:rettungsboote-4.jpg|thumb|left|Passengers escape the sinking ''Explorer'']]
[[File:explorer-sinking-2.jpg|thumb|right|''Explorer'' listing severely on 23 November 2007]]

''Explorer'' departed from [[Ushuaia]], Argentina, on 11 November 2007 on a 19-day cruise called ''Spirit of Shackleton'' run by [[G Adventures|GAP]], intended to trace the route of the 20th-century explorer [[Ernest Shackleton]] through the [[Drake Passage]] (an area typically stormy with rough seas). After visiting the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, she hit an iceberg on 23 November 2007 in the [[Bransfield Strait]], close to [[King George Island (Antarctica)|King George Island]] in the [[Southern Ocean]] and near the [[South Shetland Islands]]. The iceberg struck by ''Explorer'' made a gash in the hull which allowed water to enter. 

The [[Argentine Navy]] later said in a statement that it had observed "significant" damage.<ref name="CBS News"/> The official report of the sinking noted: "The damage sustained had to have extended along the length of the vessel from Cabins 308 to 314 for at least a distance of 3.6 meters, and, in all likelihood, had punctured and sliced holes along the shell plating."<ref name=Reportb>{{cite web|url=http://www.photobits.com/dl/Explorer%20-%20Final%20Report.PDF |title=Report of Investigation in the Matter of Sinking of Passenger Vessel EXPLORER (O.N. 8495) 23 November 2007 in the Bransfield Strait near the South Shetland Islands |publisher=Bureau of Maritime Affairs, Liberia |access-date=8 April 2009}}</ref>

Some passengers on ''Explorer'' reported a loud "bang" at the time of impact, although others reported that there had been no noticeable impact, or at least nothing more than the normal crunching of ice experienced when sailing through icy waters. One passenger reported sea water in their cabin at about 03:00 [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]].<ref>[http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2007/11/25/2007-11-25_antarctic_cruise_ship_tourists_live_to_t-2.html Antarctic cruise ship tourists live to tell 'Titanic 2' jokes], The Daily News (New York), 25 November 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/article3196383.ece Ulster grandad set for home after Antarctic rescue drama], The Belfast Telegraph, 26 November 2007.</ref> Some reports also indicated that the ship had drifted into an iceberg on ''Explorer''{{'s}} [[starboard]] side while the crew was assessing damage caused by the original impact, also to the starboard side of the ship.<ref>[https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2007/11/24/canadian_ship_lost_in_antarctic.html Canadian ship lost in Antarctic], The Toronto Star, 24 November 2007.</ref>

A [[mayday]] call was put out by the ship at 04:24 UTC, and rescue operations were quickly coordinated by the DPA Peter Burman in Sweden who directly took contact with the [[Argentine Naval Prefecture|Prefectura Naval Argentina]] (the Argentinian equivalent of a coastguard) and the Chilean Navy Center for [[search and rescue|Search and Rescue]]. Chile dispatched the [[icebreaker]] {{ship|Chilean icebreaker|Almirante Óscar Viel||2}}, and nearby commercial ships; including the MN ''Ushuaia'', the {{ship||National Geographic Endeavour}}, and the Norwegian [[Hurtigruten|Coastal Express]] ship {{MS|Nordnorge|1996|6}} which was operating as a passenger cruise ship at the time.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.armada.cl/p4_armada/site/artic/20071123/pags/20071123150603.html |title=Armada apoya labores de rescate de buque de pasajeros Explorer |date=23 November 2007 |publisher=[[Chilean Navy]] |language=es |access-date=23 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071125173719/http://www.armada.cl/p4_armada/site/artic/20071123/pags/20071123150603.html |archive-date=25 November 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> By 07:30 UTC all 91 passengers, nine guides and 54 crew,{{efn|name=fn1|The crew of 54 was made up largely of Filipinos, 45 of whom were aboard}} from over 14 countries,{{efn|name=fn2|G.A.P. Adventures listed: 24 Britons, 17 Dutch, 14 Americans, 12 Canadians and 10 Australians, four Swedes, four Irish, three Danes, two Argentines, two Belgians, two Chinese (Hong Kong), and single passengers from China, France, Germany, Japan, Colombia, Sweden. Not clarified, are earlier reports of 2 New Zealanders, 2 Bulgarians, and 1 Pole.}} had taken to the ''Explorer''{{'s}} lifeboats.<ref>{{Cite news | last = Reel | first = Monte | title = Passengers of Doomed Cruise Ship Reach Chile With Vivid Accounts | newspaper = The Washington Post | pages = A18 | date = 25 November 2007}}</ref> They drifted for five hours until they were picked up by the Norwegian ship MS ''Nordnorge'', which arrived on scene at approximately 10:00 UTC.<ref name="BBC35"/><ref name="dagbladet">{{cite web |url=http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2007/11/23/519082.html |title=Passengers are being rescued from M/S Explorer |access-date=23 November 2007 |date=23 November 2007 |publisher=[[Dagbladet]] }}</ref>

All of those rescued by ''Nordnorge'' were taken to the Chilean [[Base Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva|Frei Montalva Station]] on King George Island, from where they were subsequently airlifted by [[C-130]] Hercules [[Cargo aircraft|transport aircraft]] of the [[Chilean Air Force]] to [[Punta Arenas]], Chile,<ref name="BBC35"/> in two separate flights; one on Saturday 24 November and the other on Sunday 25 November. Those passengers not taken to Punta Arenas (an estimated 70) were taken to Uruguay's [[Artigas Base]]. ''Explorer'' was completely submerged at 19:00 UTC, approximately 20 hours after the initial impact and damage to her hull.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKL2331534120071124 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100418220412/http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKL2331534120071124 |url-status= dead |archive-date= 18 April 2010 |title=Passengers unhurt after Antarctic ship hits ice |date=24 November 2007 |publisher=[[Reuters UK]] |access-date=23 November 2010}}</ref> Her wreck lies at {{coord|-62.404882|-57.196247|format=dms}}.

[[File:Explorer-sinking-3.jpg|thumb|''Explorer'' sinking]]

''Explorer'' was designed, like most ships, with compartments which could be sealed off by watertight doors. The ship would not sink if holed and one compartment flooded, but was not safe if more compartments were flooded, either by a gash spanning compartments or imperfect sealing between compartments. GAP reported that there was a crack in addition to the hole, but it is not clear if it spanned compartments.<ref name=IHT>[http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/11/26/america/ship.php International Herald Tribune]</ref>

In an article published on 8 December 2007, experts considered that ''Explorer'' was "perfect for ice navigation", and stated that the explanation of the sinking "doesn't add up" and that "essential pieces of the story are missing".<ref name="Christian Science Monitor">{{Cite news|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1203/p04s01-wogi.html|title=Questions swirl around the sinking of the MS Explorer|date=3 December 2007|work=Christian Science Monitor|access-date=15 July 2019|issn=0882-7729}}</ref>
{{clear left}}

==Investigation==
[[File:Lindblad Explorer side view.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Side view of scale model of ''Lindblad Explorer'' on display at [[Canterbury Museum, Christchurch]], [[New Zealand]].]]

The investigation into the sinking of ''Explorer'' was carried out by the Liberian Bureau of Maritime Affairs. The report into the accident was released in April 2009.<ref name=Report>{{cite web|url=http://www.photobits.com/dl/Explorer%20-%20Final%20Report.PDF |title=Report of Investigation in the Matter of Sinking of Passenger Vessel ''Explorer'' (O.N. 8495) 23 November 2007 in the Bransfield Strait near the South Shetland Islands |publisher=Bureau of Maritime Affairs, Liberia |access-date=8 April 2009}}</ref> The report cites the decision by Captain Bengt Wiman,<ref>''Wall Street Journal'', 16–17 Feb. 2019, p. B8</ref> age 49, to enter the ice field based on his knowledge and information available at the time as the primary reason why ''Explorer'' was so severely damaged. "He was under the mistaken impression that he was encountering first year ice, which in fact, as the Chilean Navy Report indicated, was much harder land ice."{{cn|date=November 2020}}

Passengers reported seeing red paint on the passing ice less than thirty minutes prior to when the flooding was reported, another indication that the vessel was passing through compact and hard ice. The master of ''Explorer'' was very experienced in Baltic waters, but he was unfamiliar with the type of ice he encountered in Antarctic waters.<ref name=Report/> The report's investigating officer could not convince [[G Adventures|GAP]] that it was their responsibility to retrieve the ship's [[voyage data recorder]], after the master failed to ensure its transfer from the ship despite being reminded to do so.<ref name=Report/> The report also found that, given that the GAP staff "served the function of crew members", they should have had "the required safety training and documents as seafarers".<ref name=Report/>

The report praises the performance of the master and crew in organizing and evacuating the passengers, and notes that lives were likely saved due to the actions of these individuals.<ref name=Report/>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|IMO 6924959}}
* [http://www.photobits.com/dl/Explorer%20-%20Final%20Report.PDF Bureau of Maritime Affairs report] on the sinking.
* A [https://www.flickr.com/photos/andywhite70/albums/72157603320709953 first-hand passenger account] of the sinking with photos.
{{Wikinews|Canadian cruise ship sinking in Antarctic | MS Explorer cruise ship passengers are safe}}
* {{cite news |last1=Bignell |first1=Paul |title=The Sinking of the Explorer|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/the-sinking-of-the-explorer-1667532.html |work=The Independent |date=12 April 2009}}
* {{cite web |url= https://collection.canterburymuseum.com/objects/7305/model-lindblad-explorer |title=Model: Lindblad Explorer |author=Lars-Eric Lindblad |date=26 January 1996|publisher= Canterbury Museum, Christchurch, New Zealand|access-date=14 November 2020}}

{{1972 shipwrecks}}
{{1979 shipwrecks}}
{{2007 shipwrecks}}
{{coord|62.24|S|57.16|W|type:landmark|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Explorer}}
[[Category:1969 ships]]
[[Category:2007 in Antarctica]]
[[Category:Sunken cruise ships]]
[[Category:Cruise ships of Norway]]
[[Category:Expedition cruising]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1972]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1979]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 2007]]
[[Category:November 2007]]
[[Category:Ships built in Finland]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by icebergs]]
[[Category:Ships sunk with no fatalities]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks in the Southern Ocean]]
[[Category:Tourism in Antarctica]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents involving cruise ships]]
[[Category:Ships of Swedish American Line]]