M/V Turks & Caicos Explorer II
General Information
The MV Turks and Caicos Explorer II is the best platform for whale watching on the Silver Bank. It is 124 feet long with a 22-foot beam that was recently refurbished. The vessel will be our hotel for the week on the bank, anchored in a sheltered spot on the reef while we venture out by tender to share our days with the Humpbacks.
The aft half of the main deck is where diving operations take place. The dive deck is equipped with individual gear lockers, camera table, recharging station, and separate freshwater rinse baths for snorkel equipment and cameras. It also has a wetsuit hanging area, freshwater showers, and a bathroom. Large stairways lead down to the dive platform where two in-water ladders hang for easy access to and from the water. Forward of the dive deck is the air-conditioned main salon, where breakfasts and dinners are served. The salon also contains an entertainment center with TV/DVD and stereo, as well as a boutique display and access to all staterooms and the galley. The lower deck of the vessel includes the compressor and dive gear storage room aft, accessed from the dive platform through two watertight doors.
The crew is composed of certified Dive Masters and instructors who have undergone rigorous STCW 95 training in shipboard firefighting, sea survival skills, CPR, first aid and crowd control. With its professionally trained crew, rigid maintenance schedule, and abundant spare parts stock, the ship offers a trouble-free adventure during your stay aboard. The vessel is equipped with modern instrumentation and communications including 48-mile Simrad radar with proximity alarms, autopilot, Global Positioning System (GPS) with location alarm, digital depth sounder with alarm, digital bottom recorder, computerized chart system with GPS link, satellite phone with data link, cellular telephone, SSB radiotelephone and VHF radios, engine and bilge alarms, and internal telephone system.
Meals and Service
The chef and stewards will provide you an excellent variety of delicious cuisine in the scenic dining room and unparalleled service including daily steward service. If you have a general request regarding diet, please let us know ahead of time so that we may advise the ship directly. They will do their best to accommodate your wishes. Each passenger has a gear locker and wet suit rack. Water, ice tea, coffee, assorted sugar-free juices, fruit juices, and alcoholic beverages are provided. A daily happy hour on the sundeck offers snacks, green-flash sunsets, and starlit nights. Additionally, an onboard boutique with vacation videos is available throughout the week. You may pay for your onboard expenditures with credit cards, travelers' checks, cash, or by personal check (cash is preferred).
Specifications
Registry: Belize, C.A. , Boatmaker: Swiftships, 1975/1995, recommissioned 2005 and refurbished 2007.
Draft: 8.0 ft maximum, Displacement: 238 tons, Maximum Speed: 14 knots, Maximum Range: 2500 nautical miles, Engines: 2 GM 12 V 71 diesel main engines, 450 hp. each
Generators: 1 GM 671 Diesel producing 110 V AC/220 V AC, 125 KW capacity; 1 GM 671 Diesel producing 110 V AC/220 V AC, 75 KW capacity
Fuel Capacity: 5,600 gallons
Freshwater Supply: 2 Reverse Osmosis watermakers, 5,000 gallon per day total, 4,500 gallon storage
Air Systems: 2 Bauer K-14 9 cfm compressors, electric, with cascade-type storage banks, located in lazarette
Nitrox System: Nitrox Technologies membrane system, producing 32% nitrox, located in lazarette
On the Bridge: 48-mile Simrad radar with proximity alarms, Autopilot, Global Positioning System (GPS) with location alarm, Digital Depth sounder with alarm, Digital bottom recorder, computerized chart system with GPS link, Satellite phone with data link, Cellular telephone, SSB Radiotelephone and VHF radios, Engine and bilge alarms, Internal telephone system
Heads: 6 lower deck, 1 dive deck, 5 main deck, 3 boat deck
Accommodations: 20 passengers in 10 staterooms, all w/private ensuite bathrooms and showers. Up to 10 staff in crews' quarters
Safety Equipment: Life rafts (2), life rings/strobes, life vests/strobes, emergency position locator, flares, oxygen and first aid equipment
Other Equipment: Full service all electric galley and refrigeration, Scotsman Ice Flakers (2), Boatwide stereo audio system, recharging station for strobes, batteries, etc.
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Tenders
Tender
Our two tenders, driven by Tom Conlin and another very experienced and professional crew member, are the keys to our superior whale encounters. The 25-foot-long, extra-wide, ocean-going fiberglass tenders are equipped with twin, environmentally superior, four stroke engines. These state of the art engines minimize exhaust fumes and permit us to complete quiet approach techniques that are extremely important when successfully establishing soft-in-water encounters. Having twin engines for safety also doubles our range so we can reach the best and most productive areas on the bank. These tenders also furnish the best platforms for topside photography available on the Silver Bank. For your safety, a professional whale guide will always operate the tenders.
Each tender carries nine guests maximum with plenty of bench space for your comfort, splash guards to protect your dry articles, an abundance of storage space for your gear, bimini tops to protect you from the sun, heavy duty boarding ladders, first aid kits, life vests, VHF radios, GPS navigation, and plenty of sandwiches, snacks, fruit, water, beverages and juices to hydrate and energize you throughout the day.
Electrical Current and Outlets
The electricity provided is 220 V and 110 V AC power (110 V AC 3-prong (US type) grounded outlets in all cabins and heads).
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Accommodations
All guest cabins are "outside cabins" with picture windows or large portholes, carpet, blinds and 110V 60Hz US type electrical outlets. They all have private bathroom and shower, and individually controlled air-conditioning systems. There are no single cabins. Double occupancy cabins may be booked on a single basis at 1.9 times the published rate.
Staterooms 1 and 2 - Upper deck, one queen-sized bed, TV, desk, chair, large windowStaterooms 3 and 4 - Main deck, two lower twin-sized beds, desk, chair, large window
Staterooms 5, 6 and 7 - Main deck, queen-sized bed or two lower twin-sized beds, desk, chair, large window
Staterooms 8, 9 and 10 - Lower deck, twin upper and lower beds, porthole window
Deck Plan
Flybridge with covered seating area, wetbar, and grill
Boat Deck with open sun deck and two VIP staterooms
Main Deck with dive deck, lounge, dining room, and cabins 3 - 7
Lower Deck accessed via a circular staircase, and cabins 8 - 10
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