Commissioned by the Scottish Home Department

as soon as wartime shipbuilding restrictions are lifted as a replacement for a previous FRV Explorer which had been built as a trawler in 1917

Black and white photo of a busy harbor with ships docked, including a large boat in the foreground and industrial buildings and structures in the background.

Construction started at the Alexander Hall & Co. Ltd shipyard in Aberdeen

A large ship is being launched from a dry dock, with people on deck and a flag flying at the stern.

People on a riverside watching ships and boats at a port, with industrial buildings and smoke in the background, in a black-and-white photo.

A woman in a dark dress holding a bouquet of flowers and a bunch of balloons, possibly at a formal event, with several other elegantly dressed people in the background.

Launched by Lady Rachel Stuart on 21st June

Maiden Voyage

A vintage black and brown steamship named Explorer sailing on the ocean with a clear blue sky.

International Geophysical Year Polar Front Survey

Black and white photo of several boats on a body of water with hills in the background

Environmental survey by the International Commission for the North-West Atlantic Fisheries

Two people fishing off the side of a large ship at sea, with the vast ocean and sky in the background.

Environmental Survey of the waters around Ekofisk Bravo

following the well blowout which spilled up to 125,000 barrels of oil

The FRV Explorer is decommissioned

due to increased operating costs and reduced operating efficiency and sold to shipbreakers in Inverkeithing

Purchased by Aberdeen Council for restoration

but with no berth available in the port, the vessel is moored in the Cromarty Firth

A vintage black and yellow ship named 'Explorer' docked at a harbor with buildings and parked cars in the background.

FRV Explorer becomes the SS Explorer

After acquiring Explorer from the shipbreakers in Inverkeithing, Aberdeen Maritime Museum arranged for the vessel to be drydocked at Hall Russell in Aberdeen. In addition to cleaning and painting the hull and superstructure, all hull penetrations were sealed and new anodes installed. As there was still no berth available in the port of Aberdeen, the vessel was then towed to the Cromarty Firth where it was moored for a number of years.

The SSEPS formed to buy the SS Explorer

The SS Explorer Preservation Society is formed in Aberdeen. When Aberdeen Council sell the vessel to a shipbreaker in Invergordon, the Society steps in and buys the vessel which is returned to the Cromarty Firth.

A group of seven people in red work suits standing on a dock in front of a large ship called SS Explorer, which is a historic research vessel.

Red and black text displaying the year 1995.

Vessel is rammed on the port quarter by Boa Eskil.

Fortunately the hull is strong enough to survive the collision and the insurance claim provides sufficient funds to arrange for the vessel to be moved to Leith.

About the Boa Eskil detail >>