News from The Royal Canadian Geographical Society
In the historic port of Sydney, N.S., on July 31, on the cusp of its 10th anniversary, One Ocean Expeditions announced it was expanding its fleet with a ship whose name resonates with Arctic exploration history. The adventure cruise operator’s new vessel, RCGS Resolute, is purpose-built to withstand the severe ice of polar expeditions (but doesn’t skimp on luxury: the ship features a deck pool, sumptuous cabin suites and multiple lounges with 180-degree views). It will be the first to carry the “Royal Canadian Geographical Ship” prefix, RCGS, and will join the Akademik Ioffe and Akademik Sergey Vavilov under the One Ocean Expeditions banner. “The Royal Canadian Geographical Society is proud to have One Ocean Expeditions as its exclusive travel partner, and proud that Resolute will become the first ship to carry the Society’s name,” said RCGS CEO John Geiger. “RCGS Resolute will, like One Ocean’s other ships, carry the Society’s Compass Rose flag, and will serve as a platform for polar research and learning — as well as expeditionary travel.” One Ocean Expeditions is the only cruise operator to start and end voyages in Cape Breton, and the new ship promises more jobs and economic growth both in Sydney and in the Canadian Arctic. Cape Breton-born Andrew Prossin, founder and CEO of One
Ocean Expeditions, revealed that his company will use the new Sydney pier to refuel and provision its ships before voyaging north. “With the building of a second berth in Sydney Harbour, I see no reason why Sydney can’t be Canada’s Arctic gateway,” he said. Historically, explorers seeking the North Pole often left from Sydney. Robert E. Peary, who claimed to have reached the pole in 1909, launched five expeditions from Sydney’s wharves, and received a hero’s welcome on each return. The RCGS Resolute will first set sail from Cape Breton in November 2018. Finland-built, the vessel offers modern stabilization and unsurpassed ice classification compliant with the polar code. Its name is imbued with northern heritage. The ship’s namesake, HMS Resolute, was fitted for Arctic service and in the 1850s helped search for the lost Franklin expedition, contributing to further exploration of the High Arctic islands along the way. Resolute is also one of Canada’s northernmost communities, located on Cornwallis Island. “Like the RCGS,” said Geiger, “One Ocean Expeditions is dedicated to advancing knowledge about our geography — particularly of the Arctic and Antarctic regions — and sharing that knowledge with Canadians and with people all over the world.”
The ship’s name, RCGS Resolute, is imbued with northern heritage.