A MESSAGE FROM LINDBLAD EXPEDITIONS: The MV Explorer that sank in Antarctic over the weekend was not Lindblad’s ship. Our ship, the National Geographic Endeavour, actually assisted in the rescue effort and was one of the first ships to the scene.

The Explorer was built in 1969 and Lars Eric Lindblad, the father of Sven Lindblad, our president and CEO, did operate the ship in the 1970s, opening up tourism around the world on many renowned expeditions. However, Lindblad Travel sold that ship in 1982 and it has had many owners since.

Known affectionately as ‘the little red ship’, it is a sad time for many in the field of expedition travel to see that ship go down, and we at Lindblad are glad that no one was injured in this incident.

(left - The Lindblad Explorer surrounded by Asmat warriors in Papua New Guinea)

When the phone rang in the early morning of November 23 in Connecticut, I knew before answering it that the news would not be good.

“Hi Sven, the somber voice said.” “The Explorer hit something and is taking on water. The passengers have been evacuated.” “Safely?”, I asked. “Yes” was the answer.

I turned on CNN and the story was breaking. Our flagship, the National Geographic Endeavour, was on-site, having been about 50 miles away when the distress message had been sent out by Explorer. She and the Norwegian 700-passenger Nordnorge assisted in the rescue.

OK – all people were now safely off the ship. Photographs showed the Explorer listing significantly. There was no way to save her, that I was pretty sure of.

I was about an hour and a half from my office, driving on pretty empty roads. A flood of thoughts now cascaded through my head.

The Explorer had been built in 1969, commissioned by the pioneer of expedition travel, Lars Eric Lindblad, my father. For the first 20 years or so of her illustrious career, she was called Lindblad Explorer. She was the first purpose-built expedition ship for travelers and was built specifically to navigate Antarctic waters. The Little Red Ship, as she is affectionately referred to by many, was now going to sink in the waters she was built for.  Continue reading.

• Learn more about our role in the recent rescue efforts of the Explorer.
• Read a first hand account from our Daily Expedition Report.