Viking Octantis - A Magnificent Multi-Horn Master Salute

Here is the cruise ship Viking Octantis departing Duluth, Minnesota early on the evening of June 27, 2022. She had arrived in Duluth approximately 12 hours earlier (at sunrise) as part of a Great Lakes cruise visiting multiple ports. During the time she spent in Duluth, she anchored within the harbor and shuttled passengers to the dock in two of her launches. This allowed passengers the chance to enjoy many of the sights and attractions of the Duluth-Superior area... whether that be nature hikes, kayaking, art museums, historical attractions, or other local sights. The next stop for the Viking Octantis was Bayfield, Wisconsin, which was only a few short hours away.

If you watched the arrival video of the Viking Octantis, you will have noted that she didn't salute... as many of her passengers were likely still asleep. There was no reason to withhold a salute on her way out, as nearly everyone was awake at this time of day. The Viking Octantis did not disappoint, sounding a master salute of three long and two shorts blasts as she entered the shipping canal that leads to Lake Superior. The historic Aerial Lift Bridge sounded a master salute in return. The Viking Octantis has a wonderful multi-horn setup (with at least two, if not three, horns) that gives her a sound you might expect from an ocean liner... which is exactly what she is, at least for part of the year!

The 665-foot Viking Octantis was completed in December 2021 and entered service in January 2022. She will split her time between Antarctic voyages and Great Lakes voyages. She sails for Viking Cruises and is registered in Bergen, Norway. She has room for 378 passengers and 260 crew members. The Viking Octantis and her soon-to-be-completed sister the Viking Polaris are Polar Class 6 cruise ships, with a reinforced hulls capable of travel in icy waters. During her voyages, the Octantis will also undertake scientific research. She has an area called "The Laboratory" which contains lab space in coordination with NOAA - Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Norwegian Institute of Water Research (NIVA), Polar Citizen Science Collective, Norwegian Polar Institute, University of Cambridge, IUCN, Oceanites, and the Scott Polar Research Institute. The Viking Octantis is also partnered with the National Weather Service and is the first civilian ship sanctioned to launch weather balloons. The Octantis also carries two Cruise Sub 7-300 submarines named "John" and "George" in addition to a number zodiacs, kayaks, and two high speed special operation boats. As you can tell, this is no ordinary cruise ship!

The Viking Octantis will be making seven visits to Duluth in 2022, with the first visit having already taken place on May 30. This video documents her second visit. Five more visits will occur from July to September before she begins a series of voyages to the Antarctic region.

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