Exploris One accidents and incidents

14 March 2020Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(Silver Explorer/Coronavirus) On March 14, 2020, the ship was quarantined off Chiloe Island (Port Castro, Chile) after an elderly British man tested positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19). The 85-year-old male passenger showed flu-like symptoms after disembarking Silver Explorer in Port Caleta Tortel (Patagonia, Chilean Fjords). He was later transferred to a hospital in Coyhaique (Aysen Chile) where tested Coronavirus-positive. The ship was carrying a total of 231 people (111 passengers plus 120 staff-crew).

The cruise vessel operated a 14-day South America cruise from Ushuaia to Valparaiso-Santiago (itinerary March 4-18) and visited Garibaldi Fiord, Ainsworth Bay, Punta Arenas (Mar 7), Puerto Natales (Mar 9), Caleta Tortel (Mar 12), Chiloe Island (Castro, Mar 14). The next scheduled visits - to Puerto Montt (Mar 15) and Niebla (Mar 16) were cancelled.

26 June 2019Propulsion / Power Loss

(Silver Explorer) On June 26, 2019, while cruising in Alaskan waters, Silver Explorer became entangled in a drifting fishing net. As a result, the propulsion was damaged and the vessel was forced to enter drydock (in Vancouver, BC Canada) for repairs. Silversea officially announced that the ship's rope guard cutters had not been enough to handle the fishing net that tangled the propellers and damaged the reduction gear. Departure July 1 was canceled due to repairs.

The accident occurred during the 17-day cruise from Otaru (Japan) to Seward AK (itinerary June 14 - July 1) which was reduced by 5 days to allow the drydock. The current cruise was officially canceled and all passengers were flown (via charter flights) from the Aleutian Islands (Adak Airport on Adak Island) to Anchorage AK. To all were given full refunds plus future Silversea cruise credit. Same compensation was given to all affected bookings on the canceled 11-day cruise (July 1-12) from Seward to Vancouver.

Next tables show the ports sequences of both affected itineraries.

17-days from Otaru to Seward

11 days from Seward to Vancouver

17 March 2011Boat Rescue

(MS Prince Albert II) On March 17, 2011, the cruise ship's crew assisted the transfer of all the 10 crew from the disabled cargo vessel MS Oliva (launched 2009) to a fishing boat,

At 4 am on March 16, 2011, due to human error (risky navigation) the bulk carrier ran aground off Nightingale Island (Tristan da Cunha, South Atlantic Ocean). On March 18, the cargo vessel (loaded soya beans) broke in two and subsequently sank.

The freighter was en-route from Santos Brazil to China. All its 22 crew were rescued alive. Over 800 tons of MDO fuel (marine diesel oil) leaked and coated around 20,000 penguins. The accident also resulted in sealife lost as a large area around the shipwreck remained covered with soya beans, removing oxygen from the water.

The cruise ship had a major role in the conducted rescue operation. The crew launched the zodiacs (large inflatable boats used for passenger tendering) and rescued the freighter's remaining crew in dangerous sea conditions. They were catching the seamen jumping off the vessel's pilot ladder into the cruise zodiacs below. The cruise ship was commanded by Captain Alexander Golubev. Afterwards, the ship's housekeeping staff helped in cleaning the oil covered clothing and zodiac boats.

10 May 2010Structural and Technical Issues

(MS Prince Albert II) On May 10, 2010, the ship was impounded in Portsmouth (Hampshire England) for 24 hours after Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) inspectors found it was overloaded. They found records incorrectly recorded and the excess load (100 tons) removed from the logbook.

The inspecting officers found 18 deficiencies, of which 4 gave grounds for the vessel's detention. These were overloads (port and starboard "load line" marks submerged), lifeboats "not ready for use", infrequent staff breaks, 3 unsafe fire emergency routes, an air bubble in the magnetic compass.

The vessel (managed by V-Ships Leisure) was carrying 120 passengers and left port toward Scotland at midnight on May 11.

13 June 2004Other Incidents

(MS World Adventurer) On June 18, 2004, mortgage holders took possession of the vessel and the Society Expeditions cruise company ceased operations.  All passengers were flown back home from homeport Nome Alaska.  On June 30, Society Expeditions filed for bankruptcy.