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Ocean Explorer News

23 Jan 2024

SunStone Lines Up Multi-year Charters for Two Expedition Cruise Ships

(Photo: SunStone Maritime Group)

SunStone Maritime Group announced it has secured multi-year charters for two of its expedition cruise ships.The deals are for SunStone's Infinity Class vessels Ocean Explorer and the Ocean Odyssey, both built by China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu) and delivered in 2021 and 2022 respectively.Under its new charter agreement, Ocean Explorer will return to polar cruising in October 2024 for SunStone's long-term client Quark Expeditions. The vessel, which ran aground in a remote part of Greenland last year…

14 Sep 2023

Cruise Ship Pulled Free After Running Aground in Greenland

(Photo: Danish Armed Forces)

A luxury cruise ship that ran aground this week in a remote part of Greenland with 206 people on board was pulled free by a fishing trawler on Thursday.The Ocean Explorer cruise vessel had been stuck since Monday in mud and silt in the Alpefjord national park, some 1,400 km (870 miles) northeast of Greenland's capital Nuuk."We have just successfully become free now. ...

13 Sep 2023

Expedition Cruise Ship Remains Stuck Aground in Greenland

A luxury cruise ship carrying 206 people remained stuck in a remote Greenland location on Wednesday after running aground earlier this week, the vessel's operator and rescue services said.The Danish military's Joint Arctic Command (JAC) said Tuesday's tide had failed to lift the 104-metre (341-foot) Ocean Explorer enough to free it."The tide that came in during the day, local time, did not provide the desired help to sail on," the JAC said in a statement.The passengers and crew remained safe on board, Australian cruise operator Aurora Expeditions said."There is no immediate danger to themselves, the vessel or the surrounding environment," Sydney-based Aurora said in a statement.The ship ran aground on Monday while touring the Alpefjord national park, some 1,400 km (870 miles) northeast of

12 Sep 2023

Luxury Cruise Ship Runs Aground in Remote Greenland

A luxury cruise ship carrying 206 people has run aground in remote eastern Greenland with the nearest help by sea days away, the Danish military's Joint Arctic Command (JAC) said on Tuesday.The Ocean Explorer ran aground on Monday in Alpefjord in a national park some 1,400 km (870 miles) northeast of Greenland's capital Nuuk, the JAC said in a statement.There were no reports of injuries, JAC said."A cruise ship in trouble in the national park is obviously a worry.

24 Jul 2023

Ocean Explorer Offers Help to Gulf Livestock 1 Families

Ocean explorer Rob McCallum has offered to join a mission to find and retrieve the data recorder of the livestock carrier that capsized in the East China Sea in 2020.Reporting by 7News.com.au indicates that McCallum is confident that his team could find the Gulf Livestock 1, offering fresh hope to the families of the missing crew after some recently voiced disappointment with the investigation report into the catastrophe published by flag state Panama.The livestock carrier was sailing from New Zealand to China with 43 crew and approximately 6,000 dairy cattle onboard when it capsized in the East China Sea during Typhoon Maysak. 40 crew members remain missing after the capsize.As vessel flag state…

22 Dec 2022

US Navy to Name Oceanographic Survey Ship USNS Robert Ballard

File photo: U.S. Military Sealift Command oceanographic survey ship USNS Maury (T-AGS-66) (Photo: Bill Mesta U.S. Navy.

The U.S. Navy's next Pathfinder-class oceanographic survey ship will be named USNS Robert Ballard (T-AGS 67), Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Carlos Del Toro announced on Wednesday.The name selection follows the tradition of naming survey ships after explorers, oceanographers and distinguished marine surveyors. Widely known as a discoverer of the final resting place of the R.M.S. Titanic, Dr. Robert Ballard is a retired U.S. Navy Commander, former director of the Center for Ocean Exploration…

24 Jan 2022

Keel Laid in China for SunStone's Ocean Albatros

CMHI hosted a keel laying ceremony for SunStone's Ocean Albatros on January 20 in Haimen, China (Photo: SunStone Ships)

Chinese shipbuilder China Merchant Heavy Industries has laid the keel for expedition cruise ship company SunStone Ships' sixth Infinity Class newbuild, Ocean Albatros. A keel laying ceremony was held January 20 at the CMHI yard in Haimen, China.Scheduled to be delivered in March 2023, the vessel will be on year-round charter to the Danish travel company Albatros Expeditions, who is also the charterer of SunStone’s Ocean Victory and Ocean Atlantic.SunStone’s Chairman, Niels-Erik Lund…

14 Jul 2021

Second INFINITY Class Expedition Cruise Ship Delivered to SunStone

(Photo; SunStone Ships)

Expedition cruise ships operator SunStone Ships announced it has taken delivery of its second INFINITY Class vessel, Ocean Explorer, from China Merchants Heavy Industry's yard in Haimen.The newbuild will soon make its way to Manilla to pick up crew, followed by a short stop in Malta to get the remaining hotel crew and supplies before commencing cruises from Poole in the U.K. in late August. The vessel will make year-round expedition cruises worldwide for Vantage Travel.Small enough…

12 May 2021

VIDEO: Up Close and Personal with Ocean Explorer Robert Ballard

In 2019, Nautilus plied the Pacific waters off the island of Nikumaroro, searching for any sign of Amelia Earhart's lost plane. In the cool, dark control room, we kept a 24-hour vigil. (Gabriel Scarlett/National Geographic Image Collection)

Ocean explorer and scientist Dr. Robert D. Ballard opens up on his personal life and his world-famous ocean discoveries like never before in his new book, “Into the Deep.” Best known as ‘the man who found the Titanic,’ Marine Technology Reporter had the opportunity to interview Ballard on the contents of the book, a book released yesterday with a follow-up National Geographic television special scheduled for June 14, 2021, taking a deep dive into his dyslexia, the importance of his family throughout his career…

21 Jan 2021

Expedition Cruise Ship Ocean Victory Ready for Sea Trials

(Image: Ulstein)

Expedition cruise vessel Ocean Victory, under construction at the CMHI Haimen shipyard in China, is slated to commence sea trials by the end of the week, Norwegian designer Ulstein revealed Thursday.The newbuild is the third in the Ulstein-designed CX103 INFINITY series for U.S.-based owner SunStone Ships.The 104.4-meter-long vessel offers capacity for 200 passengers in 93 suites, 68 with balconies, nine with French balconies and 16 with panoramic windows. An infinity pool has been installed…

17 Aug 2020

Ocean Explorer Expedition Cruise Vessel Launched

Image Credit; Ulstein

SunStone's new expedition cruise vessel 'Ocean Explorer' was launched last week at the CMHI shipyard, China, Ulstein, the vessel designer has informed.The ship is number four in the INFINITY class of X-BOW expedition ships, all designed by Ulstein. The vessel for which the keel was laid in January, was launched on Wednesday, August 12, 2020.INFINITY Class Vessels are 104 meters long, and 18 meters wide, having a draft of 5.1 meters. They feature a passenger capacity between 130-200 and a crew capacity between 85 and 115.

04 Aug 2020

Ocean Explorer Finds WWII Submarine off Hawaii

4D Modeling of USS S-28 and insert of S-35 showing differences in bow plane cowlings (Credit: Lost 52 Project)

A veteran ocean explorer and his team have employed advanced underwater technology to discover and scan World War II submarine USS S-35 (SS-140) offshore Hawaii.This is the 7th US WWII submarine found by Tiburon Subsea CEO Tim Taylor and his "Lost 52 Project" team. This recent discovery utilized pioneering robotics and methods at the forefront of today's underwater technology. The explorers applied a combination of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV), remotely operated vehicles (ROV) and advanced 4D Modeling photogrammetry.The USS S-35…

11 Mar 2020

Sunken Submarine USS Stickleback Found

(Image: Lost 52 Project)

A World War II era submarine sunk during a Cold War training exercise off the shores of Hawaii more than six decades ago has been discovered by a team of ocean explorers utilizing pioneering robotics and methods at the forefront of today's underwater technology.USS Stickleback (SS 415), lost in nearly 11,000 feet of water 62 years ago, was discovered by veteran ocean explorer and Tiburon Subsea CEO Tim Taylor and his "Lost 52 Project" team equipped with a combination of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV)…

15 Jan 2020

Keel of Ocean Explorer Laid

Chinese cruise shipbuilding company CMHI Haimen yard carried out the keel laying ceremony for the 'Ocean Explorer'. This is the fourth ULSTEIN X-BOW design in the INFINITY class of expedition cruise vessels that the U.S. based shipowner SunStone Ships has contracted to CMHI.The 'Ocean Explorer' is based on the ULSTEIN CX103 design featuring the X-BOW® by Ulstein Design & Solutions.The INFINITY Class vessels are 104,4 m long and 18,4 m wide. They have a passenger capacity of 264, and a crew capacity of 99, small enough to give an exclusive atmosphere, large enough to yield all expected services and facilities, such as jacuzzi, bar and restaurant, boutique, open-air cinema, gym and spa.The flexible design of the INFINITY class series opens up to new possibilities for every new vessel.

12 Nov 2019

DMC Steering System for Sunstone

Netherlands-based Damen Marine Components (DMC) will supply the rudders and steering gear for SunStone Ships' fifth Infinity-class polar expedition cruise ship.The 200-passenger vessel will be built by China Merchants Heavy Industries to an Ulstein design. The contract was awarded once again by propulsion specialist Brunvoll Volda, with whom DMC is working on this ongoing series.DMC will supply two Van der VeldenATLANTIC rudders and two Van der Velden COMMANDER rotary vane steering gear systems. The ATLANTIC is a full-spade rudder with a surface area of eight square meters and steering gear torque of 110 kNm. It delivers excellent course-keeping…

14 Nov 2019

DMC Chosen for SunStone’s Fifth Infinity-Class Vessel

Photo: DMC

Damen Marine Components (DMC) received acontract to supply the rudders and steering gear for the fifth Infinity-class vessel to be built for SunStone Ships by China Merchants Heavy Industries to an Ulstein design. The contract was awarded by Brunvoll Volda, with whom DMC is working on this ongoing series.DMC will supply two Van der Velden ATLANTIC rudders and two Van der Velden COMMANDER rotary vane steering gear systems. The ATLANTIC is a full-spade rudder with a surface area of eight square meters and steering gear torque of 110 kNm.

15 Oct 2019

Interview: Dr. Catherine Warner, Director, NATO CMRE

Dr. Catherine Warner, Director, NATO CMRE. Photo: CMRE

At CMRE, it’s not just about the science. It’s about building trust and confidence in resilient systems. An interview with Dr. Catherine Warner, Director, NATO Center for Maritime Research and Experimentation, La Spezia, ItalyTell us a little about yourself and CMRE. What does CMRE do, and how do you see your mission evolving?I came here from the Pentagon, where I was the science advisor for the director of operational test and evaluation. My experience has been working with operators on systems that they’re getting ready to field.

19 Sep 2019

SunStone Cuts Steel for Ocean Explorer

SunStone Ships oversaw the steel cutting of Ocean Explorer, the fourth Infinity-class vessel in the class, at China Merchants Heavy Industry yard in Haimen.With a goal of marrying European design and quality with Chinese ship-building efficiency, the Infinity class delivers cutting-edge design, innovations like X-bow technology, and significant operating efficiencies, said a press release form the largest tonnage provider in the expedition market.SunStone President and CEO, Niels-Erik Lund, said: “We are very pleased with the quality and building standards of China Merchants Heavy Industry, which are fully at the level of European Shipyards.

11 Sep 2019

China-Built Cruiser Delivered to Sunstone

Photo: SunStone

China Merchants Heavy Industry has delivered an expedition cruise vessel to SunStone Ships, the first of its next-genn INFINITY-class vessel and perhaps more significantly China's firm entrance into the cruise ship building sector.The arrangement to bring this ship from drawing board to delivery slip is the culmination of marrying European cruise design and quality with Chinese ship-building efficiency. The vessel will be chartered out to Aurora Expeditions.https://www.marinelink.com/news/cruise-ship-construction-china-rising-438788The vessel has departed China Merchants Heavy Industry…

03 Jun 2019

SunStone Orders 7th Newbuild

Florida-based designer and developer of next-generation expedition ships  SunStone Ships has signed an agreement for the construction of its seventh Infinity-class ship in Hong Kong, China.The seventh vessel now ordered has a long-term charter agreement in place, this vessel will be delivered in September 2021."We have been moving along steadily with ordering and building the Infinity Class Vessel, continuing with the European designed, Chinese built concept," said a statement from the company.Infinity Class new-builds underway include the GREG MORTIMER, scheduled to be delivered August 2019, the OCEAN VICTORY in October 2020, the OCEAN EXPLORER in January 2021…

23 Apr 2019

NOAA Intros New OceanReports Tool

A new web-based interactive tool for ocean mapping and planning created by NOAA and the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, will give everyone from ocean industries to coastal managers, students, as well as the general public the opportunity to be an ocean explorer from their own computer.U.S. ocean waters comprise nearly four million square miles and is one of the largest Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) in the world. Now, when users outline any area in the U.S. EEZ using the OceanReports tool, they can get detailed information about habitats and species, industries in the area, potential hazards such as undersea cables or shipwrecks…

14 Apr 2019

SunStone Orders Sixth Newbuild in China

Miami-based SunStone Ships signed to build a sixth Infinity-class expedition vessel in China, continuing the European designed, Chinese built concept.The passengership operator said in a press release that it already has a long-term charter agreement in place. Delivery is set for September 2021.SunStone President and CEO, Niels-Erik Lund, commented, “We have worked diligently in obtaining the long term charters and shipbuilding orders for the Infinity Class vessels and we continue to move forward with the contracts and building at a very satisfactory speed, safety and quality level”.Infinity Class Vessels are 104 meters long, and 18 meters wide, having a draft of 5.1 meters.

28 Feb 2019

Ulstein Bags SunStone Ship Order

Norwegian ship designer Ulstein has received a contract to design the fourth expedition cruise vessel for Miami-based SunStone Ships, in their Infinity series.The vessel, which will be constructed at the China Merchants Heavy Industries (CMHI)  yard in China, is a CX103 design featuring the X-BOW and designed by Ulstein Design & Solutions.The SunStone ship design contracts were the first cruise contracts for Ulstein, a ship design company with long experience from the offshore industry. Their patented bow, the X-BOW, has originally been developed for excellent seakeeping in rough conditions, but has also the advantage of more space in the bow areas…