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Following OEC's acquisition by
Lindblad Expeditions in March 2013, it was announced that cruises to Orion's destination mainstays of Indonesia, Borneo, Papua New Guinea and the Kimberleys would continue. In March 2014 itineraries to more easterly and remote Pacific islands were added. Orion was to be
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as "the latest in the quest to build the perfect expedition vessel". Owned by the
Marshall Islands registered company Explorer Maritime and leased under a long-term agreement by OEC, the vessel was previously operated, albeit for a short time, by US-based cruise operator
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On 5 March 2013 it was announced that OEC had been acquired by US-based small ship operator
Lindblad Expeditions, which owns five ships and charters a further five and operates cruises to a variety of destinations. CFMF also holds a 60% interest in Lindblad Expeditions.
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were some of the first tourists to be part of organised travel in the country. OEC planned to continue and expand their operations in East Timor in 2006, but the company's plans were suspended when the fledgling nation became unstable just a few weeks before the
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On 20 May 2008, Bratton, then managing director, announced the purchase of the company by US private equity firm KSL Capital
Partners, and Cruise Ferry Master Fund (CFMF), a division of German shipping bank DVB.
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Regulations: Orion is built according to the latest international safety regulations, including those of the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Public Health, Canadian Arctic
Shipping, and St. Lawrence Seaway.
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In a statement in
January 2015, Lindblad surprised the industry by announcing that Orion would be based in Europe for the northern summer from 2016, ceasing Southern Hemisphere winter operations.
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equipped with an underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV), capacity for up to 24 scuba divers and oceangoing kayaks, with cruises to be accompanied by a
National Geographic photographer.
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from the port of Darwin, to Papua New Guinea and the
Solomon Islands from the ports of Cairns and Rabaul as well as occasional cruises along the east coast of Australia focusing on the
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223:(TDI). TDI had operated the vessel in the Antarctic and the Arctic and many points in between before handing the vessel over to OEC in the Tahitian port of
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The company offered expedition cruises to
Antarctica from the Australian island of Tasmania and the New Zealand port of Bluff, in the remote
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The concept behind the formation of the operation was to bring a new flavour of locally based luxury expedition-style cruising to
Australia.
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Guest Capacity: 106 (twin occupancy). 24 additional guests may be accommodated in convertible sofa or upper Pullman beds.
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In 2005 OEC made history by being the first cruise line to take a ship into the newly independent nation of
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anchored off Kitava in Papua New Guinea's Trobriand Islands with a traditional Kula Canoe in the foreground
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Communications: Direct-dial satellite telephones; fax; e-mail; Internet access; internal telephone system
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will be renamed the National Geographic Orion from March 2014, and join Lindblad Expeditions owned
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Additional Craft: 10 Zodiac Heavy Duty MK5 Inflatables, 10 Sea Kayaks, and a Fishing Boat
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in early 2004, Orion Expedition Cruises began cruising operations in March 2005 with the
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Registry: Bahamas and crewed and providored by V-Ships Leisure, of Monaco.
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Classification: Germanischer Lloyd; 100 A5 E3 Passenger Ship; MC E3 AUT
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Hull: Ice-reinforced for voyages in the Arctic and Antarctic
368:"Orion Expedition Cruises acquired by Lindblad Expeditions"
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MV Orion in Kuri Bay on Western Australia's Kimberley Coast
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Stabilisers: Blohm & Voss, retractable fin stabilisers
354:"Lindblad quits Kimberley - NG Orion to Europe for 2016"
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154:was due to dock in Dili in June 2006. The
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141:and the nation's second largest centre
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171:Kimberley region of Western Australia
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38:Founded by Australian businesswoman
267:Ice Class: E3 (Germanischer Lloyd)
166:replaced Dili in OEC's itinerary.
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409:Shipping companies of Australia
384:Cassens-Werft Shipyard homepage
240:MS National Geographic Explorer
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236:National Geographic Endeavour
221:Travel Dynamics International
288:Delivery Date: November 2003
273:Engines: Mak; 8M25; 3,265HP
207:The luxury expedition ship
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291:Builder: Cassens Shipyard-
298:Staterooms and Suites: 53
216:Berlitz Guide to Cruising
177:and some cruising around
17:Orion Expedition Cruises
137:. Visiting the capital
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250:Vessel specifications
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335:List of cruise lines
330:List of cruise ships
270:Gross Tonnage: 4,000
44:repositioning cruise
404:Expedition cruising
261:Draft: 3.82 metres
258:Beam: 14.25 metres
255:Length: 103 metres
244:Oceanic Discoverer
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175:Great Barrier Reef
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276:Speed: 14.0 knots
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285:Year Built: 2003
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393:Categories
341:References
164:West Timor
156:Indonesian
135:East Timor
114:Operations
46:of the MV
295:, Germany
92:Antarctic
68:Australia
324:See also
232:MV Orion
209:MV
179:Tasmania
158:port of
98:and the
70:via the
25:MV
225:Papeete
52:Papeete
34:History
194:Orion
160:Kupang
143:Baucau
64:Sydney
56:Tahiti
293:Emden
211:Orion
152:Orion
147:Orion
124:Orion
76:Samoa
50:from
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27:Orion
230:The
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