Grand Bahama Island - The 210-foot research vessel, Atlantis II was re-christened at Freeport Harbour on Wednesday, July 18, 2007. Special guests and dignitaries, along with the media, gathered on a hot afternoon next to the vessel to be a part of a historic moment.   Rev. Canon Harry Bain first blessed the ship, and having the honour of re-christening the vessel was Anita Doherty, Chief Councilor for the City of Freeport.    Gray Henricksen, the ship’s captain had earlier prepared the bottle of champagne for the christening by having it etched for easy breakage – this went awry when the bottle exploded on the vessel, so a subsequent bottle was bought for this purpose, but when trying to break the un-etched bottle against the ship, it would not break, and actually broke free from Ms. Doherty’s hand falling to the ocean floor.   All was not lost with the ceremony, as a bottle of Bahamian Kalik beer finally did the trick (seephoto below); breaking easily against the vessel to the cheers, applaud and giggles from the on looking guests!

The Atlantis II retired in 1996, sat idle for ten years and was ready to be sold as scrap metal, when it was saved by Mr. Gordon Hunsucker of Outlander Expeditions.   Mr. Hunsucker brought the vessel to Grand Bahama to be serviced at the Grand Bahama Shipyard in fall of 2006. After a complete refit, the vessel looks better than ever, and is now ready to do again what it is most famous for, that is exploration and research, and it is capable of doing so anywhere in the world.

Being built by the Wood’s Hole Oceanographic Institute (the largest non-profit oceanographic institution in the world, located in Massachusetts) and having its first christening in September, 1962, the vessel boasts a 33-year career, and gave countless contributions to oceanographic science, logging over a million miles at sea.   On hand at the re-christening was the noted local oceanographer, Paul Mockler, who was involved in the under water filming taken of the Titanic while she was being discovered.    Alvin, the submersible that was housed on the Atlantis II at that time, is the submarine that Paul traveled below in to take the footage.  Mr. Mockler, the Director of Oceanography for Outlander Expeditions, is excited to once again be associated with this vessel.

Now added to her original amenities are a full workout gym, the Explorers Lounge with bar and wide flat-screen TV, an expanded dining room with fireplace, a retail store, and a first-class dive locker that can fit up to sixty divers.   The Atlantis II is once again ready to sail the oceans of the world as a ship for private, commercial, or scientific use.   Her new adventures hope to provide persons from anywhere in the world the opportunity to participate alongside the crew and science teams – offering a unique adventure travel experience.

Gordon Hunsucker, founder and owner of Outlander Expeditions, shares how the idea came about,

 “I can remember watching TV when I was a kid, and seeing all these things that were happening around the world, as far away as Egypt, and people were finding remains of ancient cities, recovering treasure off the coasts of Florida, and so on. I remember thinking how cool it would be to be a part of something like that. But at the time, there weren’t any opportunities to do so, and now there is! “

He continues,

“You don’t have to be satisfied with watching adventure and discovery only on the screen, or by reading about it in some book.   Now you can live the adventure and be a part of the experience - every aspect of it. It’s an amazing feeling to feel the thrill and adventure of discovery. The only thing missing is the theme music.”

The spirit of adventure lives on in this great ship, as she will once again, explore and make new discoveries.    Despite her incredible past, the best is yet to come!

Ms. Anita Doherty, Chief Councilor, City of Freeport; Captain Gray Henricksen; Rev. Canon Harry Bain; and Gordon Hunsucker of Outlander Expeditions stand dockside of the Atlantis II research vessel at the re-christening ceremonies at the Freeport Harbour on July 18, 2007

Ms. Anita Doherty, Chief Councilor, City of Freeport breaks a Bahamian bottle of Kalik beer on the side of historic research vessel, Atlantis II, at the official re-christening at the Freeport Harbour on July 18, 2007. Captain Gray Henricksen looks on.

Guests and dignitaries stand for an official group photo in front of the historic vessel, Atlantis II at her re-christening at the Freeport Harbour on July 18, 2007.