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Ocean Explorer picks up Aurora Expeditions' Greg Mortimer Arctic itineraries

Ocean Explorer, previously chartered by Vantage Deluxe World Travel, is completing Greg Mortimer's Arctic season for Aurora Expeditions as that ship undergoes repairs.

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Credit: Seatrade Cruise News

Greg Mortimer sustained propeller damage, and Ocean Explorer is operating the ship's remaining four Arctic voyages. 

Earlier, in the first court hearing for Vantage's Chapter 11 proceedings in the US, it emerged that Aurora Expeditions is interested in potentially acquiring Vantage assets, including its hefty customer database. 

Sister ships

Aurora's Greg Mortimer and Sylvia Earle are the sisters of Ocean Explorer and Ocean Odyssey, all four owned by affiliates of SunStone Maritime Group.

Ocean Explorer and Ocean Odyssey were withdrawn from service in late May, shortly before Vantage filed for bankruptcy protection. Affiliates of SunStone Maritime Group are major creditors in the Vantage case, with claims for the charters of Ocean Odyssey ($3.6m) and Ocean Explorer ($3.2m). 

Greg Mortimer in Caen

According to AIS data, Greg Mortimer arrived in Caen today. That is where Ocean Explorer had been laid up, along with Ocean Odyssey.

Sylvia Earle remains in operation, and Aurora Expeditions said Greg Mortimer’s next sailing season is to commence in November.

An Aurora spokesperson in Sydney said CEO Michael Heath is traveling in the Arctic and the company had no further information to share at this point. 

About the Authors

Helen Hutcheon

Australasia correspondent

Helen Hutcheon did her cadetship on a shipping magazine and worked in P&O’s Sydney office for seven years as a public relations journalist.

For 19 years she was deputy editor of Travel Week, which was Australia’s leading trade newspaper that covered major local and international industry events.

In 2008 the late legendary Rama Rebbapragada presented her with an award from Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd ‘in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the cruising industry.’

In 2010 she won the Neil Frazer Award for ‘outstanding contribution to the cruise industry,’ elevating her to CLIA Australasia’s hall of fame.

She has been the Australasia correspondent for Seatrade Cruise Review since 1997 and for Seatrade Insider (now Seatrade Cruise News) since its launch in 2000.

 

Anne Kalosh

Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

Anne Kalosh covers global stories, reporting both breaking and in-depth news on cruising's significant people, places, ships and trends. A sought-after expert on cruising, she has moderated conferences around the world, including the high-profile State of the Industry panel at Seatrade Cruise Global. She created and led the acclaimed itinerary-planning case study for Seatrade's cruise master classes held at Cambridge and Oxford universities. She has been the cruise columnist for AFAR.com, and her freelance stories have appeared in a wide range of publications, from The New York Times to The Miami Herald.

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