MV National Geographic Explorer
ex Lyngen, Midnatsol II, Midnatsol
© Gena Anfimov (Port of Klaipeda (Lithuania), 02/09/2011)
Steel twin screw motor vessel built in 1982 by Hatlo Verksted A/S Ulsteinvik Norway (Yard No 176) as a Passenger/Ro-Ro/General cargo ship
Technical Data
- Length: 112.00m (overall) 97.88m (between perpendiculars)
- Breadth: 16.52m
- Depth: 8.85m
- Draught: 4.601m – 3.671m
- Tonnage: 4,072 – 6,471 gross/2,076 – 1,942 net/1,301t deadweight
- Engines: Two x 16 – cylinder KVM – Bergen diesels
- Power: 4,708kW/6400HP
- Speed: 17.5 knots (max) 15.0 knots (service)
- Capacity: 44 cars/148 passengers
- Crew: 70
- Passenger Decks: 6
- Call Sign: LLMH, C6WR2
- IMO Number: 8019356
- MMSI Number: 309336000
- DNV GL ID Number: 13087
- Port of Registry: Tromsø/Norway 🇳🇴, Nassau/Bahamas 🇧🇸
- Sister-Ship: Narvik, Vesteralen
Current AIS Location
Please note that this specific vessels AIS position data may be over an hour old and that the vessels position will only be displayed when it is within range of the VesselFinder AIS system. The AIS transponder/ship position data featured on this page is intended for information purposes only and it is in no way related to the 'Safety of Navigation at Sea'. All the AIS ship position data featured within this article is provided by VesselFinder and we are therefore not responsible for its content or its accuracy.
History
July 1st 1981: Keel laid.
May 22nd 1982: Launched.
November 26th 1982: Delivered to Troms Fylkes D/S A/S, Tromsø, Norway.
December 2nd 1982: Completed.
December 5th 1982: Hurtigrutens services between Bergen – Kirkenes.
Official Postcards
March 2nd 1988 – March 1988: Rebuilt at Motorenwerke, Bremerhaven, Germany.
March 14th 1988: Returned to service.
© Pieter Inpyn
1994 (Winter): Refit at Haugesunds Mekaniske Verksted, Norway.
January 19th 2003: Renamed MIDNATSOL II.
April 8th 2003: Final service for Hurtigruten from Kirkenes.
April 15th 2003: Arrived in Bergen.
April 16th 2003: Left Bergen for layup at Fiskerstrand Verft AS, Fiskerstrand (Ålesund).
July 4th 2005: Renamed LYNGEN and refitted at Fosen Mekaniske Verkstad.
2005: Returned to Hurtigruten services.
March 2006: Registered to Hurtigruten Group ASA, Narvik, Norway.
© Mikkel (Tromsø, 07/07/2007)
September 2007: Sold to Lindblad Expedition, Nassau, Bahamas.
October 18th 2007: Taken over by her new owner.
October 19th 2007: Arrived Cityvarvet, Gothenburg for conversion/rebuilding.
January 13th 2008: Left Gothenburg for Las Palmas.
January 20th 2008: Arrived Las Palmas for completion of rebuild.
June 2008: Registered to Lex Explorer LCC, Seattle, USA and renamed NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER.
© Pieter Inpyn (Olden, Norway, 07/08/2010)
© Ken Smith (Woolwich, UK 12/05/2024)
May 26th 2020: Called at Dover.
🆕 © Marcel and Ruud Coster (Ijmuiden, 11/06/2022)
June 16th 2022: Called at Dover.
© Dover Strait Shipping (Dover, 16/06/2022)
June 15th 2023: Due at Dover.
All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions. All items included in this article are subject to © copyright. We would like to take this opportunity of thanking: Gena Anfimov, Marcel and Ruud Coster, Dover Strait Shipping, Fotoflite, Pieter Inpyn, Mikkel, Ken Smith and Andreas Wörteler for their assistance in producing this feature.
Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)
