EXPLORER

EXPLORER

IMO 9183518

Registered Owner: Explorer Maritime LLc. - Monaco a V-Ship Comp. Charter to: Seawise Foundation/Semester at Sea.

Former owner: ROYAL OLYMPIA CRUISES -GREECE.
Olympia Explorer and sistership Olympia Voyager are very fast cruiseships. Speed approx. 28 knots. Boths ships are built in Germany at Blohm und Voss. This 2 ships are the first newbuildings ordered by ROC ever.
The Olympia Explorer ready for hand-over by the yard in late 2000. However entered service in 2002 due to a financial dispute with the yard and the weak financial position of ROC at that time.

DUE TO FINANCIAL PROBLEMS OF ROYAL OLYMPIA. PURCHASED ON LEGAL AUCTION BY GERMAN MORTGAGE BANK KfW ON MARCH 24-2004 FOR $ 97.2 mil. Resold to Stella Maritime.
PURCHASED BY STELLA MARITIME ( V-SHIPS ) MAY 2004. CHARTER WITH PURCHASE OPTION TO SEAWISE FOUNDATION - USA FOR A PERIOD OF 15 YEARS. RENAMED INTO EXPLORER.

Entered operational service 2002 - Gross Tonnage 24.318- Passengers lower beds: 832 - All berths: 920 - Passenger decks: 8 - Length: 180,45 m. - Beam: 25,50 m.- Propulsion: 4 x Wärtsilä 4 stroke single acting dieselengines type 9 L 46 C power each 9.450 kW - Total power: 37.800 kW - 2 Controllable pitch propellers - Service Speed: 20 knots - Max. speed: 28 knots - Built: Blohm und Voss Shipyards GmbH - Germany - Yard no. 962 - Flag: Bahamas - Classification: GL.

Passenger space ratio all berths: 26.43

Former names: Olympia Explorer- Olympic Explorer

Sistership:Grand Voyager since 2012 Costa Voyager

Olympia Explorer

Jan.27 -2005 Voyager’s sistership Explorer, owned by Stella Maritime ( V- Ships) , had almost identical problems in the Pacific about 1600 miles of Hawaii. After a powerful wave hit the vessel, knocking out the same bridge window and disabling the bridge console’s electronic engine control system. The former Olympia Explorer is on long-term charter to the University of Pittsburgh’s Institute for Shipboard Education,
See also page Grand Voyager.

June 8 -2005: Five months after a rogue wave struck the MV EXPLORER in northern Pacific waters, rattling 700 students and disabling the ship, the University of Pittsburgh has decided to end its over twenty year sponsorship of the Semester at Sea program. In addition to concern over the use of the EXPLORER (ex OLYMPIC EXPLORER, OLYMPIA EXPLORER) which has not proven to be a comfortable sea boat in severe weather conditions.
June 11-2005: The Institute for Shipboard Education and the University of Pittsburgh reached an agreement under which the University will continue to certify academic credit for participation in Semester at Sea until the spring 2006 semester. This agreement will mean that all upcoming voyages will continue as scheduled. A statement on their website reagarding recent news reports, it stated. Det Norske Veritas, a renowned Norwegian company with an impeccable reputation in the shipping industry, to inspect the ship and conduct a full evaluation of the circumstances around the incident. In their final assessment, DNV reported that the MV EXPLORER, "in light of the severity of the weather it encountered, performed better than any ship of her class." Based on their recommendations, modifications have been made to the ship that include, among others, reinforcement of the metal framing and windows on the navigational bridge. The improvements further enhance the MV Explorer's seaworthiness and suitability as our shipboard campus for many years to come".

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