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Laura Thieme

Bizresearch President – 10 years - 2007

Fisher College of Business Lecturer on Search Marketing

OSU Russian Studies Grad – 1993

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24th November 2007

Antarctica Cruiseliner Sinks: Should I Still Go to Antarctica?

Antarctica Cruise: Yesterday’s Explorer, Owned by G.A.P. Expeditions, Sinking Was A Sobering Event

If you followed any of the events surrounding Explorer sinking yesterday off the Shetland Islands, south of Ushuaia, Argentina, please let me know your thoughts in the comments area. Have you been on this ship, the G.A.P. Explorer, or another ship?

I’m headed to Antarctica in less than two weeks, on another ship. However, I planned to be on Abercrombie & Kent’s Explorer II which is now named the Minerva. A&K used to own the old Explorer, before it was sold to G.A.P. in 2004.

Personally, learning the cruisers and crew were okay was a relief. But when the ship lost her battle with the seas, that was sobering news. The 154 passengers are incredibly lucky, and the awareness of this fact increases when you learn the ship did not survive, sinking within 14 hours of the iceberg collision.

Reports on the safety records are referenced in several online articles today, including this one. Lloyd’s List, an online maritime industry news website, talks about the safety issues reported with the Explorer as well as assessing the insurance cost as a result of the tragedy.

Passenger accounts are beginning to stream in, along with bloggers weighing in on the news. I read one blog post of people who picked up some of the ship’s cruisers and crew, indicated they did not have wallets or identification. I wonder what the mood was when the ship’s cruisers were asked to disembark, without even their wallets? Did people think they would be able to return? Was there not enough time? Should our personal identification and wallet be on our selves at all times? Cameras and photographers probably wanted to take their equipment with them, perhaps a satellite phone was desired. Perhaps they wouldn’t allow any belongings whatsoever.

I found it difficult to get information on this topic from the major American TV news outlets. A cruise liner going down is a big deal, so why did the news give it no more than a mere mention? The wildfires in Malibu - that gets hours of coverage on CNN. It’s kinda funny or sad that we’ve been talking about global warming, to near hype levels, for the past year. The Today Show was in the region for an entire week, movie stars have frequented the region recently, and yet a cruiseliner carrying scientists and some tourists does not get much news coverage when it sinks, luckily without loss of life.

Bloggers criticised increased tourism, along with blog posts yesterday that talked about lack of skilled crew to handle the surge in tourism to Antarctica. I read one report that said that there was a 20% increase in tourist activity to the region in the past year. There were 35,000 tourists to the region - that’s a lot considering that the ice-strengthened allow 198 passengers in one ship, and there are really only 2-3 months of safer travelling with less ice in the Northwestern part of Antarctica.

Here are some of my remaining questions:

What is the difference between Explorer II, now called the Minerva, and the old Explorer?

What is the difference between ice-strengthened ships and ice breakers?

How do I learn about the safety record of the cruiseliner I’m going on, in two weeks, to Antarctica?
I’ve read about the Lloyds List, but need to find out more info.

Cruise safety records indicate some failed maintenance checks on GAP’s Explorer in the past year.

Review related articles & podcasts:

Washington Post on Explorer Cruiseliner Sinking in Antarctica

Salt Lake Tribune on Antarctica Passengers Return to Safety

Yahoo Sky News References 1st Report of Larger Damage to Explorer Ship Than Originally Thought

Lloyd’s List Talks About Antarctic Charting Inaccuracy and Need for Updates (7-day free trial available)

NPR (National Public Radio) Podcast & Article on Antarctica Cruise Ship Sinking & Endeavor’s Rescue of the Cruisers

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