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Ocean Explorer accidents and incidents

Ocean Explorer cruise ship
Rating:

Cabins
80

Length (LOA)
104 m / 341 ft

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CruiseMapper's Ocean Explorer cruise ship accidents, incidents and law news reports relate to a 162-passenger vessel owned by Aurora Expeditions Australia (Quark Expeditions). Our Ocean Explorer accidents page contains reports made by using official data from renown online news media sources, US Coast Guard and Wikipedia.

Here are also reported latest updates on cruise law news related to ashore and shipboard crimes still investigated by the police. Among those could be arrests, filed lawsuits against the shipowner / cruise line company, charges and fines, grievances, settled / withdrawn legal actions, lost cases, virus outbreaks, etc.

  • grounding - 2023 (in Alpefjord NP, near Mestersvig Greenland)

11 September 2023Ship Grounding

On September 11, 2023, at ~3:10 pm (UTC), while navigating in Alpefjord National Park (near Camp Nyhavn/Mestersvig, Greenland) the ship ran aground. Mestersvig is a military outpost in Scoresby Land (southwestern Davy Sound) in King Christian X Land.

Being under charter by Aurora Expeditions, Ocean Explorer was carrying a total of 206 people (passengers plus crew). No injuries or water ingress/pollution were reported. Initial reports from Joint Arctic Command (Danish Defence's Level II authority) indicated that the ship didn't sustain significant hull damage.

Greenland's maritime authorities considered the possibility of evacuating all passengers if necessary. The Arctic Command (Military Ops) dispatched HDMS Knud Rasmussen (Patrol Vessel, MMSI 220428000) to assist the cruise ship. However, it was commented that it would 4 days (Sept 15th) for Knud Rasmussen to reach the area, being approx 1200 NM (2200 km/1380 mi) away from the site.

Reportedly, the Arctic Command contacted another cruise vessel in the area and commanded it to remain nearby is urgent assistance is needed. According to CruiseMapper's satellite AIS tracker, the closest cruise ship was Silver Endeavour - off Ymer Island or just ~100 km/60 mi to the north.

After failing to get free using its own power during high tides, to assist the cruise ship was dispatched Tarajoq (2021-built Fishery Research Vessel, IMO 9881225). On September 14th, after several attempts, Tarajoq finally managed to pull free Ocean Explorer.

The good news was officially confirmed by Commander Brian Jensen (Joint Arctic Command;'s Head of Operations) as well as by Carsten Lund (Sunstone Ships Inc's/shipowner's CEO).

You can add more details on reported here accident or submit new / your own Ocean Explorer ship incident ("Cruise Minus" report) via CruiseMapper's contact form.