By
Rebecca Gibson |
Silversea’s 132-guest Silver Explorer has successfully completed the company’s first ever journey through the Northwest Passage between Greenland and Alaska.
Silver Explorer embarked on the 23-day voyage in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, on 9 August and ended her journey in Nome, Alaska, on 1 September after covering a distance of nearly 3,500 nautical miles. The ship sailed through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago following a similar route to Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen who completed the first successful boat navigation of the passage during his east to west expedition from 1903 to 1906.
“Sailing the Northwest Passage is an experience reserved for true adventurers and dedicated explorers,” said Conrad Combrink, Silversea’s director of expedition planning and strategic development. “We are honoured to know that what was once an unfulfilled dream for such renowned explorers as Captain James Cook, Henry Hudson, and many others, is now a successful chapter in the history of Silversea Expeditions.”
Famous for its shallow channels and floating ice, the Northwest Passage provides a challenge for many vessels and only a small number of successful transits have been completed since Amundsen’s expedition.
Guided by Captain Alexander Golubev, who has led more than 50 voyages to the Arctic, Antractic and Greenland, the small-sized Silver Explorer was able to transit the passage with the help of her shallow draft, ice-strengthened hull. The ship, which has 1A ice class certification, was also escorted by an icebreaker during a critical part of the journey.
“It’s a special privilege to sail through the world’s most elusive and historic waterways. Such a journey requires careful and meticulous planning at every stage,” said Golubev. “I’m pleased that all our strategising and preparations resulted in success for Silversea’s first-ever Northwest Passage expedition and I’m very grateful to be among a small group of mariners who have experienced such an extraordinary opportunity during their careers.”