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Orient Lines, Inc.
Orient Lines, Inc. of
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, plans to conduct 5 cruises to the Antarctic
during the 1999-2000 season using the MARCO POLO.
MARCO POLO
The vessel is
ice-strengthened and was built by VEB Mathias-Thesan Werft of Wismar,
Germany in 1965 and re-built during 1991-93 under the supervision of
Knud E. Hansen, naval architects, and A. & M. Katzourakis, ship
designers. Call letters of the vessel are C6JZ7 and it is
registered in the Bahamas. The MARCO POLO is 176.28 meters (578.4
feet) in length, 23.6 meters (77.4 feet) in breadth, has a draft of 8.2
meters (26.9 feet), and is 20,502 tons GRT. Power is provided by 2
Saulzer 7 RND 76 diesel engines with power output of 10,500 bhp each.
The vessel has twin-screw propellers and is fitted with Denny Brown (UK)
fin stabilizers. There are 6 SKL diesel generators capable of
producing approximately 3,500 kw. The MARCO POLO is equipped with
the latest radio and satellite communications systems (INMARSAT 1306215)
and state-of-the-art navigation equipment. The vessel was
redesigned to comply with all 1992 "Marpol" rules for waste
disposal including an onboard biological treatment plant with a liquid
waste disposal system, refuse sorting, pulping and a treatment plant, in
addition to a modern refuse incinerator. All lifeboats are
semi-enclosed, engine propelled and capable of saving 1,200 persons.
The vessel is also equipped with two high-speed all-purpose passenger
tenders and 10 inflatable zodiac landing craft. The staff and crew
capacity is 350, whereas the passenger capacity is 850. However
during cruises to the Antarctic Treaty area, Orient Lines only intends
to carry 400-450 passengers.
Schedules for each of the
cruises follows:
Cruise MP #1
December
1999/January 2000
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Port
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Dates
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Buenos Aires,
ARGENTINA
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24 DEC 1999
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at sea
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25-26 DEC 1999
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Falkland Islands
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27-28 DEC 1999
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At sea
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29 DEC 1999
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Antarctic Peninsula
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30 DEC – 02 JAN 2000
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At sea
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03 JAN 2000
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Ushuaia, ARGENTINA
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04 JAN 2000
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Cruise MP #2
January
2000
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Port
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Dates
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Ushuaia, ARGENTINA
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05 JAN 2000
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at sea
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06 JAN 2000
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Antarctic Peninsula
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-
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07-10 JAN 2000
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at sea
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11 JAN 2000
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Ushuaia, ARGENTINA
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12 JAN 2000
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Cruise MP #3
January
2000
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Port
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Dates
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Ushuaia, ARGENTINA
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13 JAN 2000
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at sea
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14 JAN 2000
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Antarctic Peninsula
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15-18 JAN 2000
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at sea
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19 JAN 2000
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Ushuaia, ARGENTINA
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20 JAN 2000
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Cruise MP#4
January
2000
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Port
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Dates
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Ushuaia, ARGENTINA
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21 JAN 2000
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at sea
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22 JAN 2000
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Antarctic Peninsula
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23-26 JAN 2000
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At sea
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27 JAN 2000
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Ushuaia, ARGENTINA
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28 JAN 2000
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Cruise MP#5
January/February
2000
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Port
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Dates
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Ushuaia, ARGENTINA
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29 JAN 2000
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at sea
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30 JAN 2000
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Antarctic Peninsula
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31 JAN – 02 FEB 2000
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At sea
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03-10 FEB 2000
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Cross International
Dateline
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11 FEB 2000
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Cape Evans
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12 FEB 2000
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Cape Royds
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13 FEB 2000
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McMurdo Station
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14 FEB 2000
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Terra Nova Bay
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15 FEB 2000
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Cruise Cape Hallett/Cape
Adare
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16 FEB 2000
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At sea
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17-19 FEB 2000
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Lyttleton, NEW
ZEALAND
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20 FEB 2000
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