I have mentioned the Orient Explorer (ex Sognefjord ex HMS Kilham ex PCE 833) in several posts on the forum, like here: Back to the stone age? - #4 by ombugge
After several galant attempts to save her she is now at a shipbreaking yard in Malaysia, Here a picture from 01.Sept. 2024:
The progress is slow due to bad weather in the region.
Here a picture from 18. Sept. 2024:
Both pictures by Dean Aldrian in KK via Knut Dale, M/S Sognefjord
Today a post from Mathias Eriksson who more or less grew up onboard her as the “Orion II” during the time his father owned her and operated her as a cruise boat in Finland and out of Cyprus (1987-97):
What is known, so far:
Hallstein Ese
Pullman Standard Car Manufacturing designed and built the ship in Chicago in 1943. David Sandved designed the rebuilding of the ship at Haugesund Mek. Verksted in 1949/50.
Anybody has any info for Mathias about her US building yard, or time as HMS Kilham?