WORLD DISCOVERER Shipwrecked in a remote bay of the Solomon Islands

Hidden in a remote bay of the Solomon Islands, the beached wreck of the German-built Liberian flaged expedition cruise vessel WORLD DISCOVERER slowly rusts away. Built in 1974, it served multiple official owners faithfully for over 25 years.

In April of 2000, the ship struck an uncharted reef formation just off the Solomon Islands in the Pacific Ocean.

by Earl of Cruise

WORLD DISCOVERER in Australian waters - own collection, courtsey SOCIETY EXPEDITIONS

WORLD DISCOVERER was anew type cruise ship designed for the expedition cruise market, a few years earlier inaugurated by LINDBLAD CRUISES. WORLD DISCOVERER was built by SCHICHAU SEEBECK WERFT, Unterweser, Germany in 1974 as the second purpose built expedition cruise ship ever in the world. During construction the vessel was called BEWA DISCOVERER, the ship was completed 1974 in Bremerhaven, Germany.

WORLD DISCOVERER was classified as a Swedish/Finnish 1A Ice Class, allowing the ship to withstand minor ice floe impacts. The vessel had a double hull construction, allowing for periodic voyages to the Antarctic polar regions to allow its passengers to observe ice floe movements. The ship carried a fleet of inflatable dinghies, Zodiacs, allowing passengers to move closer to ice floes for observation, whale watching, or going ashore on remote shores. WORLD DISCOVERER also had a 13,000 km (8,100 nautical miles) cruising range, allowing the ship to travel the Northwest Passage.

WORLD DISCOVERER in DE FRIES colours at Gudhjem, September 1978, following the international signal coloured design of LINDBLAD EXPLORER WORLD DISCOVERER was painted in orange-red - own collection, courtsey SOCIETY EXPEDITIONS

WORLD DISCOVERER in Toronto, inner harbour, with the new owners logo at the funnel - own collection, courtsey SOCIETY EXPEDITIONS

Name:	WORLD DISCOVERER (1975 - 2000)
Owner/s:	·BEWA Cruises (Denmark) (1974 - 1976) ·Schiffahrtsgesellschaft De Fries & Co. (1976 - 1979) ·charterer Adventurer Cruises (1979 - 1987) ·sub charterer SOCIETY EXPEDITIONS (1979 - 1987) ·DISCOVERER REEDEREI (1987 - 2000) charterer SOCIETY EXPEDITION CRUISES (1987 - 2000)
Port of registry:	·1975–1976: Copenhagen Denmark ·1976–1980: Singapore Singapore ·1980–2000: Monrovia Liberia
Yard number:	2250
Launched:	8 December 1973
Acquired:	19 October 1975, but BEWA never took possion
Refit:	1996
Identification:	·Call sign: ELDU3 ·IMO number: 7349053
Fate:	Wrecked April 30, 2000 after striking an uncharted reef in the Sandfly Passage
Status:	Lying on its side with a 46° list
Displacement:	3724 gross tons
Length:	70,8 m (232,2835 ft)
Beam:	15.12 m (49.6 ft)
Draft:	4.4 m (14 ft)
Depth:	8.72 m
Decks:	7
Installed power:	2 x 1760 kW
Propulsion:	Twin MAK 8M452AK Diesel engines driving a single propeller
Speed:	16.50 knots (30.5 km/h)
Capacity:	137 (150 max.) passengers
Crew:	75 to 80 crew members
Wreck site Coordinates: 9°01′23.17″S 160°07′22.91″E

BEWA went into bancrupcy with a financial scandal in Denmark. The builders got into financial troubles as the vessel could not be paid, the fonds had been disappearing, by its contractors and got subsidiaries from the federal state of Bremen.

The ship was originally intended to offer the BEWA CRUISES expedition type cruises out of Denmark. But as it is rumored, as with the late ODESSA, ex KØBENHAVN, that BEWA was only a fraud to get get investors money. BEWA went into bancrupcy. BEWA had by the way not the expertise conducting such cruises, which I learned from a friend and former sales manager of LIINDBLAD, Capt. Mato Stanovic.

ODESSA, ex KØBENHAVN, starting life rough and ending rueful - own collection

The vessel was laid up at the builders as BEWA never took possession of the newbuilt. The niche of expedition cruises was to new back then, and no puchaser went up. In July 1976, the vessel was sold to SCHIFFAHRTSGESRLLSCHAFT DE FRIES & Co. in Hamburg. DE FRIES originally a freight line, DE FRIES contracted back then LÜBECK LINIE for the ship management and sales. From 1977 to 1979 the renamed WORLD DISCOVERER was sold quite successful by NECKERMANN REISEN. The German tour operator, established by Josef Carl Peter Neckermann (5 June 1912 – 13 January 1992) a German equestrian (dressage riding) and Olympic champion, and founder of the mail order company Neckermann AG in 1938, was in their best days really innovative.

Neckermann benefited greatly from the Nazi forced hostile takeover of Jewish merchants including the 1938 acquisition of Karl Amson Joel's retail business in Berlin. Joel, grandfather of American singer-songwriter Billy Joel and conductor Alexander Joel, founded a Nuremberg-based mail order textile and clothing company in 1928. The following year he also started manufacturing. Joel's company soon became one of the leading mail order sellers in Germany (along with Quelle or Schöpflin). As discrimination further increased (e.g. deliveries had to be marked with a "J" for Juden, or Jew), and Jewish firms became "Aryanized", Joel was forced to sell his company to Neckermann for an unrealistic cheap purchase price in 1938. The original agreement of Reichsmark 2.3 million was further reduced by Neckermann to Reichsmark 1.1 million. In 1957 Joel got a compensation of DM 2 million for his former company from Neckermann who ran the most successful German mail order selling company at the time. The frauded purchase by Neckermann was back then a scandal in Germany, and caused sales droppings, which caused the payment at least.

But years later the purchase came up again and started a discussion about "Aryanized" businesses and its benefactors.

Neckermann's daughter Eva-Maria Pracht and granddaughter Martina Pracht were also Olympic equestrians.

Earl of Cruise

The purchasing deal of WORLD DISCOVERER could start only when DE FRIES was partnered by LÜBECK LINIE for the hotel and crew management and NECKERMANN for the sales. For NECKERMANN itself it was quite adventurous taking the risk of sales for a totally new market, which had only be proven by one previously - LINDBLAD EXPEDITIONS.
But back then the NECKERMANN mangers did see the advantages of such an opportunity, and happily signed the contract. Further it has been the second German built in their fleet beside MAXIM GORKIJ, ex HANSEATIC 3, ex HAMBURG.
The ship was transfered to ADVENTURE CRUISES, Inc. and renamed WORLD DISCOVERER. The ship also became a long-term charter to SOCIETY EXPEDITIONS. The ship was registered in Singapore in 1976 when cruises started. In 1987, SOCIETY EXPEDITIONS came under new ownership by a US investor and a German Schiffsfonds, and was renamed SOCIETY EXPEDITION CRUISES, with offices in Seattle and Bremen, Germany. The new owner of the ship was DISCOVERER REEDEREI who also had ownership of other vessels, such as EXPLORER, ex LINDBLAD EXPLORER. In 1990, WORLD DISCOVERER was now registered in Liberia.
This reorganisation was the start of endless troubles, meetings, renogitiantions and involved lawyers. Seatle, never meant as the headquarter, initiated itself permanently as the head of business and counteracted several times decisions made in Bremen, the real headquarter. Seatle was meant as US sales office, nothing more, nothing less.

WORLD DISCOVERER, in new colour scheme and with new logo - own collection, courtsey SOCIETY EXPEDITIONS

The owners, biased by the revenues of the expedition cruises, and rising demand for, ordererd 1990 at RAUMA YARDS in Finland a second vessel for its SOCIETY EXPEDITION CRUISES fleet - SOCIETY EXPLORER. But as I learned from former managers from the Bremen office, partly mismanagement and most greed from the US investor by taking too much revenues to persuade his investors caused financial troubles, and the new ship could not be taken over by ADVENTURER SHIPPING Co. and sailing for SOCIETY EXPEDITIONS.
In 1996, WORLD DISCOVERER was refurbished at SEMBAWANG to needed safety and hospitality standards of the mid 1990s for more than it was actually worth on the ship sales market. The old little expedition lady had to be refinanced via the German fonds investment market.
During the period from November through February (Austral summer), WORLD DISCOVERER conducted cruises in the Southern Hemisphere and visited places like Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, Chile, Patagonia and the Fjords and Argentina. From March to May and August to October, WORLD DISCOVERER cruised the South Pacific Islands. Between the months of June and August, the ship cruised around the Alaskan region and also the Russian border around the Bering Sea.

WORLD DISCOVERER during its Northwest Passage - own collection, courtsey SOCIETY EXPEDITIONS

WORLD DISCOVERER in Alaska - own collction, courtsey SOCIETA EXPEDITIONS

The ship was captained by Oliver Kruess, who had previously crewed as Chief Mate. SOCIETY EXPEDITIONS also hired a small team of experienced expedition leaders as lecturers and to answer tourist questions concerning the region, ice floes, their movements, and the ship's destinations. A small fleet of dinghies landed passengers on various shorelines for observation of local wildlife in the area. Each day comprised typically two to three shore expeditions, led by geologists, historians, naturalists, and marine biologists. The ship was equipped with an observation lounge, medical center with an active physician, library, sun deck with a small swimming pool, small fitness center, and a lecture hall.

WORLD DISCOVERER in Salaverry - own collection, courtsey SOCIETY EXPEDITIONS

On Sunday April 30, 2000, at 4 p.m. local time (0500 GMT), WORLD DISCOVERER struck a large uncharted rock or reef in the Sandfly Passage, Solomon Islands. Captain Oliver Kruess sent a distress signal, which was received in Honiara, the Solomon Islands' capital city. A passenger ferry was dispatched to the ship and all passengers were then transported to safety. The captain then brought the ship into Roderick Bay after the ship began to list 20 degrees and grounded it to avoid sinking. After underwater surveying of the ship, the WORLD DISCOVERER was declared a "constructive loss". The ship has remained in Roderick Bay ever since. There were no reports of any oil, petroleum or other pollutant spills as a result of the impact.

WORLD DISCOVERER after she struck a large uncharted rock or reef in the Sandfly Passage, Solomon Islands, beached and sunken in Rederick Bay, Nggela Islands - own collection

Michael Lomax, president of SOCIETY EXPEDITIONS, congratulated the captain and crew for their heroic and professional actions, saying that they performed in an "exemplary manner" during the crisis. The ship was scheduled to have its annual dry-dock inspection on May 11 when annual maintenance work would have been completed. Also planned were the addition of two additional suites on the boat deck and also the installation of a new fire protection system throughout the ship.
While there have been international passengerson board WORLD DISCOVERER, BBC made headlines only mentioning "ALL BRITONS" saved ...

Wrecked WORLD DISCOVERER, watched by native children from the Nggela Islands - own collection

WORLD DISCOVERER still sits in Roderick Bay of the Nggela Islands with a 46° list. The closest salvage companies to attempt salvage of the ship, stationed in Australia, found the ship ransacked by the locals and other factions. The Solomon Islands were undergoing civil war at the time; the ship was boarded by locals who took the equipment and other critical devices. Tidal activity damaged the ship even more. The ship has been sustaining surface rusting with many of the windows removed. The ship became a tourist attraction with the locals of the island, as well as other cruise lines that pass by the World Discoverer, including MV PRINCESS II. The ship can still be seen on GoogleMaps.

WORLD DISCOVERER laying on starboard side like a stranded whale - own collection

Detoriating WORLD DISCOVERER, above 2000, below 2010

Any attempts at repair or salvage were abandoned after the locals had looted anything of value from the vessel; the cost of making her seaworthy again would have been prohibitive.As a result, she was left to sit and rust away, now a tourist and photography destination.

The new ship to come, then DREAM 21

The 1989 built DREAM 21, ex DELPHIN STAR, ex BALTIC CLIPPER, ex SALLY CLIPPER, ex DELPHIN CLIPPER - © Foto Tommy Lakmaker

In the aftermath of the wreck, SOCIETY EXPEDITIONS bought 2001 DREAM 21, which SEMBAWANG SHIPYARD Pte. Ltd. had purchased. It was the former DELPHIN STAR, ex BALTIC CLIPPER, ex SALLY CLIPPER, ex DELPHIN CLIPPER, built at RAUMA YARDS in 1989. The vessel had a somehow turbulent carrer and several mishaps in its history book. SOCIETY EXPEDITIONS bought the vessel for an extraordinary high price, but had to refurbish the ice class vessel for its needs, especially reducing the passenger capacity and rising the onboard luxuries to the needed 5stars. The pice culminated to US$ 35 mio! The new WORLD DISCOVERER, was launched in 2002, resuming cruises. SOCIETY EXPEDITIONS two years out of business and revenues, survived, but got in severe financial troubles and ceased operations in June 2004 after their new vessel was seized by a creditor, ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND, in Nome, Alaska. They got cold feet about thier credit, as a number of ship financing credits imploded in the aftermath of the 9/11 stock exchange crash. The "wake up call" was an involuntary bancrupcy petition by share holder and Seatle representative Bruce Fisher, against SOCIETY EXPEDITIONS. Bruce Fisher tried several times to get hold of the lucrative business, especially after DREAM 21 turned into the new then most luxurious expedition cruise ship WORLD DISCOVERER. Two weeks later, SOCIETY EXPEDITIONS in USA, the Seatle office, filed chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcy in July 2004.
This brought the German company in Bremen into the final downfall and any refinancing attempts to an immediate halt.
When troubled waters are ahead the rats leave the sinking ship, or shareholders try to get a chance to control the remaining bits ... it did happen in a similar way when DEUTSCHE ATLANTIK LINIE went into troubles.
One of the initiators and pioneers of expedition cruises, and more important expedition in luxury went down the drain because of short sighted greed.

WORLD DISCOVERER deck and cabin layout, after transfering a 3star ship into a 5star luxury vessel, not that different to SILVERSEA´s - own collection, courtsey SOCIETY EXPEDITIONS

A very interesting isometric explosion deckplan of COWART DESIGN ILLUSTRATIONS

The vessel was sailed back to SEMBAWANG and laid up for sale. History is repeating: as the previous SEMBAWANG charter attempts failed, this time it was the same.

For clearing the books of SEMBAWANG the vessel was "sold" 2003 to a subsidiary in the Bahamas, DELTA STEAMSHIP and renamed WORLD ADVENTURER. 2005 the vessel was renamed back to WORLD DISCOVERER to increase the international interests and better sales opportunities.

All sales negotiations led to nothing, as SEMBAWANG was insisting on its set price of US $ 35 mio - it was a matter of loosing face, while SEMBAWANG had financial problems of its own.

2007 the vessel was sold to SILVERSEA DISCOERY SHIPPING, Nassau, Bahamas, for the asked price and rebuilt at FINCANTIERI, Montfalcone to fit into the SILVERSEA luxury fleet and the passenger capacity was changed to 167 guests on board by installing new cabins. The main work was done for SOCIETY EXPEDITIONS. As PRINCE ALBERT II the vessel emerged 2008.

PRINCE ALBERT II, later SIVER EXPLORER, ex WORLD DISCOVERER and some other "ex names" - courtsey SILVERSEA, source: Wikipedia (original size)

SILVERSEA got into financial troubles with the purchase and rebuilding and had been supported a credit given by the SOCIÉTÉ DES BAINS DE MER, Monaco. When the lended money was repaid in 2011 the vessel was renamed into the SILVERSEA nomenclatur - SILVERSEA EXPLORER.

MS WORLD CISCOVERER (Swedish)

Knud E. Hansen A/S on WORLD DISCOVERER. knudehansen.com

Shipping News: Year 2000 passenger ship and cruise news from around the world. Maritime Matters.

WORLD DISCOVERER (2002). Newzeal.com

WORLD DISCOVERER Damaged in Pacific Incident. aad.gov.au. 10 May 2000

WORLD DISCOVERER on Google Satellite view. Maps.google.com (1970-01-01)

Oh Look, There's a Dead Cruise Ship In Google Maps. Gizmodo.com (2011-06-24)

The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Society Expeditions files for bankruptcy. Seattletimes.nwsource.com (2004-07-01)