The Silver Explorer vessel has crossed this difficult navigation area as part of the Silversea Expeditions program.
The Silver Explorer, expedition ship of the luxury cruise company Silversea, has successfully completed its first voyage through the legendary Northwest Passage in a 23-day journey that covered a distance of approximately 3,500 nautical miles.
The journey began in Kangerlussuaq (Greenland) on August 9 and ended in Nome (Alaska) on September 1, following a route through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago similar to that taken by Roald Amundsen on his 1903-1906 expedition, the first successful voyage by ship through the Passage.
“Sailing through the Northwest Passage is an experience reserved for true adventurers and determined explorers,” says Conrad Combrink, Silversea’s director of expedition planning and strategic development. “We are honored to know that what was once an unfulfilled dream for renowned explorers such as Captain James Cook, Henry Hudson, and many others, is now a successful chapter in the history of Silversea Expeditions.”.
The Northwest Passage is famous for its shallow channels and floating ice. Although summer ice conditions have allowed for several successful crossings since Amundsen's expedition, the area can still present challenges. The Silver Explorer, with its small size, shallow draft, ice-strengthened hull (1A certified), and Captain Alexander Golubev at the helm, is a perfect combination for this mission.
“It is a special privilege to navigate through the world’s most elusive and historic waterways. Such a journey requires careful and meticulous planning at every stage,” says Golubev, who has captained more than 50 voyages to the Arctic, Antarctic, and Greenland. To facilitate the ship’s passage, Captain Golubev engaged an icebreaker to escort the Silver Explorer through a critical section of the route. “I am pleased that all our strategy and preparations culminated in the success of Silversea’s first expedition through the Northwest Passage, and I am very grateful to be part of a small group of sailors who have experienced such an extraordinary opportunity in their careers.”.
