Twelve years ago, the world’s most renowned polar cruise ship, the MS Explorer, set out from a deep-water port in Argentina toward the icy, treacherous waters of Antarctica. The ship’s 154 passengers and crew had every reason to feel secure. With its class-1A ice-reinforced hull, bow thrusters and brawny diesel engines, the Explorer had been safely ferrying tourists through extreme polar environments since 1969. It was the first cruise ship ever to navigate the Northwest Passage.

Source: Wall Street Journal February 16, 2019 05:03 UTC