MV Explorer (1969)

	MS Explorer in January 2005
History
Name	1969–1985: MS Lindblad Explorer; 1985–1992: MS Society Explorer; 1992–2007: MS Explorer;
Owner	1969–1972: K/S A/S Explorer & Co, Oslo, Norway; 1972–1980: Swedish American Line, Gothenburg, Sweden; 1980–1982: Lindblad Swire Cruises, Panama; 1982–1983: Salén AB, Stockholm, Sweden; 1983–1985: Ferry Services Curacao NV, Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles; 1985–1992: Discoverer Reederei GmbH, Germany; 1992–2003: Explorer Shipping, Monrovia, Liberia; 2003–2004: Kyris Shipping Ltd., Monaco; 2004–2007: G.A.P. Shipping, Bahamas;
Port of registry	Oslo (1969–72); Panama City (1972–89); Monrovia (1989–2007);
Builder	Uudenkaupungin Telakka, Uusikaupunki, Finland
Laid down	1969
Launched	14 December 1969
In service	1969–2007
Out of service	23 November 2007
Identification	IMO number: 6924959; Liberian Official Number 8495;
Fate	Sank after hitting an iceberg on 23 November 2007 at 62°24′S 57°16′W.
General characteristics
Tonnage	2398
Length	239 ft (73 m)
Beam	46 ft (14 m)
Draught	14 ft 7 in (4.45 m)
Ice class	ICE-1A (as per BNV, equals Finnish-Swedish IA)
Propulsion	2 × MaK diesel M452 AK each 1,800 bhp (1,300 kW), driving a single variable-pitch propeller, 4 blades
Speed	12.5 knots (23 km/h)
Capacity	104 passengers
Crew	54

The MS Explorer or MV Explorer was a Liberian-registered cruise ship, the first vessel of that kind used specifically to sail the icy waters of the Antarctic Ocean. She was the first cruise ship to sink there, after striking an iceberg on 23 November 2007. All passengers and crew were rescued.

The ship was commissioned and operated by the Swedish explorer Lars-Eric Lindblad. Its 1969 expeditionary cruise to Antarctica was the forerunner for today's sea-based tourism in that region. The vessel was originally named MS Lindblad Explorer (until 1985), and MS Society Explorer (until 1992). Ownership of the vessel changed several times, the last owner being the Toronto-based travel company G.A.P Adventures which acquired Explorer in 2004.

Explorer was abandoned in the early hours of 23 November 2007 after taking on water near the South Shetland Islands in the Southern Ocean, an area which is usually stormy but was calm at the time. Explorer was confirmed by the Chilean Navy to have sunk at an approximate position of 62°24′S 57°16′W, between the South Shetlands and Grahams Land in the Bransfield Strait; where the depth is roughly 600 m. The Royal Navy Antarctic Patrol Ship Endurance, whilst carrying out a hydrographic survey for the British Antarctic Survey and at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, later pinpointed Explorer's final resting place as 62°24′17.57″S 57°11′46.49″W, at an approximate depth of 1,130 m – a distance of 4,373 m from her reported sinking position. This is broadly consistent with the direction of the prevailing current.

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