Quark Expeditions
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![]() Quark Expeditions first purpose built ship, 'Ultramarine' | |
Founded | 1991 |
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Headquarters | Seattle,United States |
Key people | Andrew White, President |
Services |
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Parent | Travelopia |
Website | www.quarkexpeditions.com |
Quark Expeditionsis a travel company that offerspolar regionexpeditions aboard expedition ships andicebreakers.
History
[edit]Quark Expeditions was founded in 1985 by Mike McDowell, initially specializing in small-ship dive expeditions. It then transitioned to polar expeditions, where McDowell had prior experience as the expedition leader of theMV Explorer.
In 1990–1991, McDowell chartered the MV Frontier Spirit during its inaugural season of operations for several voyages to Antarctica from Hobart, Australia and Bluff, New Zealand. After these voyages, Mike McDowell partnered with Lars Wikander.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/15-09-11_006_Quark_Expeditions_ship%2C_Sea_Adventurer_%28Nassau_registry_IMO_7391422%29%2C_at_Griffin_Inlet%2C_Beechey_Island%2C_Nunavut%2C_Canada.jpg/220px-15-09-11_006_Quark_Expeditions_ship%2C_Sea_Adventurer_%28Nassau_registry_IMO_7391422%29%2C_at_Griffin_Inlet%2C_Beechey_Island%2C_Nunavut%2C_Canada.jpg)
In 1998, McDowell sold his interests to Lars Wikander, who then became the company's majority owner. Three years later, Wikander became chairman of the board when Patrick Shaw joined the company as president and CEO.[citation needed]
In May 2007, the company became part of the UK-basedTUI Travelgroup of companies; subsequently, in 2016, it became part ofTravelopia,a division comprising some brands from the former TUI Specialist Group.[citation needed]
In 2012, the company advertised that it was offering the first "carbon-neutral"polar expeditions with the Ocean Diamond. The formerro-ro shipusesBunker Cheavy-duty oil, and one voyage produces an estimated 5,682 tons of CO2.The tour operator signed a contract with the certifier The CarbonNeutral Company.[1]
In 2016, the company mounted an Arctic expedition involving internet personalities andYouTubecreators including Ben Brown, Tim Kellner andTom Scottled by retired CanadianastronautChris Hadfield.[2]
The company's summer 2019 program in the Arctic included sailings toGreenland,Canada's High Arctic, theNorthwest Passageand theNorth Pole.[3]
In April 2021, Quark took delivery of its first solely owned shipUltramarinefrom Brodosplit shipyard in Croatia.[4]
Polar fleet & land expeditions
[edit]In 1991, Quark Expeditions was the first consumer-led expedition to the North Pole.[5]The company has the largest and most diverse fleet of passenger vessels in theAntarctic.[6]Quark offers both cruises and land-based expeditions. Expeditions are held on the following ships:
Icebreakers | ||||||
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Name | Year Completed | Shipyard | Passenger Capacity | Ice-class | Notes | |
50 Let Pobedy(50 Years of Victory) | 1993 | Baltic Shipyard | 128 | LL1 (the highest rating possible)[7] | ||
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Kapitan Khlebnikov | 1981 | Hietalahti Shipyard,Finland | 108 | LL3[8] | |
Expedition Fleet | ||||||
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Ocean Adventurer | 1975 | Brodogradilište,Kraljevica,YugoslaviaSFR Yugoslavia(now Croatia) | 128 | 1A | To be retired from Quark expedition service in October 2024[9] |
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World Explorer | 2019 | WestSEA Shipyard,Viana do Castelo, Portugal | 172 | 1B | Chartered from Mystic Cruises, will be renamed STAR EXPLORER and will be handed over toWindstar Cruisesin December 2026.[10] |
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Ultramarine | 2021[11] | Brodosplit shipyard,Croatia | 199 | 1A+, PC6[12] | First ship fully owned by Quark Expeditions |
Ocean Explorer | 2021 | Haimen shipyard, Jiangsu, China | 138 | 1A, PC6[13] | Chartered from Sunstone 2024/25 Antarctic season replacingOcean Adventurer[14] |
Sustainability & charitable initiatives
[edit]Quark Expeditions is a long-time, active member of theInternational Association of Antarctica Tour OperatorsandAssociation of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators,and promotes various sustainability initiatives.[15][16]In 2012, the Ocean Diamond made acarbon-neutralvoyage to Antarctica.[17]
Recognition
[edit]Quark has received several industry awards, including fromTravel WeeklyandNational Geographic.[18][19][20][21][22][23]
References
[edit]- ^"Quark Expeditions Offers First Carbon Neutral Voyages in Polar Travel History".Adventure Travel Trade Association.2012-04-20.Retrieved2024-01-17.
- ^Bishop, Jordan (2016-10-26)."This 7-Minute Video Will Make You Drop Everything And Visit The Arctic".Forbes.Retrieved2016-11-10.
- ^"Quark Expeditions Announces Arctic Program for Summer 2019".Cruise Industry News.2018-02-04.Retrieved2024-01-17.
- ^Industry News, Cruise."Quark Takes Delivery of New Expedition Ship Ultramarine - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News".
- ^Elmhirst, Lynn (2021-10-19)."Quark Expeditions' New Ship, Ultramarine, is an Expedition Cruising Gamechanger".Open Jaw.Retrieved2024-01-17.
- ^"Ships".www.antarcticaguide.com.Retrieved2022-09-21.
- ^"50 Years of Victory: Polar Icebreaker | Quark Expeditions".www.quarkexpeditions.com.Retrieved2024-04-13.
- ^"Kapitan Khlebnikov: Russian Icebreaker | Quark Expeditions".www.quarkexpeditions.com.Retrieved2024-04-13.
- ^Wenger, Dr Michael."Last season for popular Polar expedition ship".Polarjournal.Retrieved2024-04-13.
- ^"Windstar Cruises to acquire two ships from Mystic Invest".Shippax.Retrieved2024-04-13.
- ^"Brodosplit Delivers Luxury Expedition Cruise Ship Ultramarine".The Maritime Executive.Retrieved2024-04-13.
- ^"Ultramarine | Quark Expeditions".www.quarkexpeditions.com.Retrieved2024-04-13.
- ^"Ocean Explorer | Quark Expeditions".www.quarkexpeditions.com.Retrieved2024-04-13.
- ^"Ocean Explorer going to Quark, Ocean Odyssey leaving cruise service (updated)".Seatrade Cruise News.2024-01-22.Retrieved2024-04-13.
- ^"Sustainable, Responsible Polar Tourism with AECO & IAATO".Quark Expeditions.Retrieved2024-01-17.
- ^Lestin, Yveneka (2019-04-22)."Quark Expeditions Unveils" Polar Promise "Sustainability Strategy".Luxury Travel Advisor.Retrieved2021-12-28.
- ^"Quark Expeditions Offers First Carbon Neutral Voyages in Polar Travel History".Adventure Travel News.2012-04-19.Archivedfrom the original on 2012-05-11.
- ^"World's Leading Polar Expedition Operator 2013".World Travel Awards.
- ^"WTM London 2014 - Amadeus & WTM Travel Experience Awards Winners".Archived fromthe originalon October 18, 2014.RetrievedOctober 9,2014.
- ^"Winners List".Travel Weekly Magellan Awards.
- ^"50 best trips for 2013".Wanderlust.2012-12-27.
- ^Loftus, Margaret (20 April 2010)."Best Tours in Europe".National Geographic.Archivedfrom the original on January 29, 2017.
- ^"The Wanderlist".Outside Online.1 March 2006.