R/V Odyssey Explorer (front) and the RFA Argus, Falmouth, England
History
United Kingdom
NameFarnella, later Northern Prince
OwnerFarnella Ltd., later Northern Prince Ltd.[1]
BuilderClelands Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.[1]
Launched1972
RenamedApril 1, 1994
HomeportDriffield, East Yorkshire, England
Identification
NotesUse: Stern Trawler, Deep-sea freight transport
Bahamian FlagBahamas
NameOdyssey Explorer
OwnerOdyssey Retriever Inc.[1] (Odyssey Marine Exploration)
OperatorMarr Vessel Management Ltd.[1]
AcquiredAugust 7, 2003[2]
HomeportNassau, Bahamas
IdentificationCall sign 3EGK2
Statusin active service
NotesUse: Rescue/Salvage Ship
Panama
NameEmpire Persia
OwnerRisdon Beazley Marine Ltd
Port of registryPanama
Acquired2016
IdentificationCall sign: 3EGK2
StatusIn service
NotesUse: Offshore supply ship
General characteristics
Tonnage
Length
  • 70.2 m (230 ft) LWL
  • 76 m (249 ft) LOA
Beam12.65 m (41.5 ft)
Draft8.11 m (26.6 ft)
Speedmax 9.3 kn (17.2 km/h; 10.7 mph)

The R/V Odyssey Explorer was a salvage and recovery vessel owned by Odyssey Marine Exploration. It was sold in 2016 and renamed Empire Persia by the Latvian business conglomerate which purchased the vessel.[3]

Falklands Conflict

In 1982 Odyssey Explorer was operating out of Kingston upon Hull under the name Farnella as a stern trawler.[4] Upon the outbreak of the Falklands Conflict, Farnella, along with three sister ships, was taken up from trade by the Royal Navy and commissioned as a stop-gap minesweeper for operations in the South Atlantic.[5] HMS Farnella was returned to her owners in October 1982.

Dispute with Spain

On October 16, 2007 Spain seized the Odyssey Explorer as it sailed out of port from the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. The vessel's captain, Sterling Vorus, claimed to have been in International Waters, but was forced to dock at Algeciras under what Vorus declared was "threat of deadly force". Once in port Vorus was eventually arrested for disobedience after refusing inspection of the vessel without first receiving approval of Odyssey Explorer's flag state, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. Vorus was released the following day. Aboard the Odyssey Explorer at the time of seizure were about a dozen journalists and photographers, all of whom had their video tapes, tape recorders and computer memory storage devices seized by Spanish officials.[6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Odyssey Explorer". DNV Exchange Vessel Info. Det Norske Veritas (DNV). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Odyssey Explorer". MarineTraffic.com. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  3. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: ODYSSEY EXPLORER REPORTED SOLD | thePipeLine". 7 June 2016.
  4. ↑ http://www.hulltrawler.net/Stern/FARNELLA%20H135.htm
  5. ↑ Perret, Bryan (1982). Weapons of the Falklands Conflict. Poole: Blandford Press. p. 34. ISBN 0-7137-1315-1.
  6. ↑ "U.S. ship held in $500M booty row". CNN. October 18, 2007. Retrieved April 26, 2010.


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