Our staff

Jan Belgers was born in 1965 in the Netherlands and lives in Rotterdam. He has been working as a professional outdoor guide and expedition leader for many years now. Travelling and guiding in wildernesses all over the world are his passion. His work as a guide has brought him from the high mountain ranges of the Himalayas and Andes to the extreme latitudes of Spitsbergen and Antarctica. His first steps in the Polar Regions he made in 1992 as a student, when he participated in an international winter expedition to the Weddell Sea in Antarctica. Since then he has joined several (research) expeditions to remote places in the northern and southern oceans. Jan feels at home on the sea, due to his background in marine biology, and is one of the expedition leaders on our sailing ship, the Noorderlicht. He lectures on natural history, biology and polar history and is a polar literature fanatic.
 

Rinie has been expedition leader since 1989 (20 years) and has lead almost 200 expeditions in Franz Joseph Land, Greenland, Canadian Arctic, Scottish Islands, Antarctica and the Sub Antarctic. Spitsbergen (Svalbard) has become so familiar to him, it is like his back yard; no other person has done so many expedition cruises in this archipelago (over a 100 expeditions)! After he finished his formal education in Forestry Management and Nature Conservation in 1981 in the Netherlands, he travelled around the world to photograph and study wildlife. He stayed for almost a year in the Falkland Islands. He is an excellent wildlife photographer and many of his photographs have been published in magazines and photo books. He has written several books about the Polar Regions including a coffee table style book about areas "off the beaten track". During the season 1994-95 he was rated by the Argentinean Antarctic Institute as Leader of Safest Zodiac Operations aboard Tourist Ships.

Andrew became interested in Antarctica and the Polar regions during his studies at university. He made his first trip to the Great White Land in January 2009 and has been returning as a guide every season since.

Andrew grew up on King Island, a small Island off Tasmania, Australia, before moving to Hobart to further his studies in 1993. He graduated with a bachelor of science in 2001, majoring in geology and environmental geography. He has spent the intervening years travelling throughout Australia and overseas, exploring different countries and experiencing what other cultures of the world have to offer.
Andrew’s work as a geologist has only enhanced his love of the outdoors and has seen him criss-cross the Australian continent, taking him to some very remote and very hot areas of Australia. During his first trip to the Southern Continent in January 2009 he contracted a severe case of the ‘Polar Bug’ and returns every year as a guide and lecturer for Oceanwide Expeditions, eager to cool off and share his love and knowledge of Antarctica.

Expanding his horizons he has been exploring and guiding in the northern Polar Regions since 2012, observing the fauna, flora and very interesting geology and geomorphology of Svalbard, Greenland and Iceland.

Sebastian was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he earned a degree in Tourism. He took a one-year mountain guide training course, climbing in different parts of Argentina such as Mendoza, Bariloche, and Tierra del Fuego.
In 2000, he moved to Ushuaia, Argentina, where he became a Tourist guide in Tierra del Fuego, working as a free-lance guide for different companies in Ushuaia. Concurrently, he worked on several vessels visiting sea mammals and birds colonies at the southernmost tip of South America. He sailed to many places in the world including to the Mediterranean Sea, the Canadian Arctic, Antarctica, Argentina, Chile, and around the mystic Cape Horn. In 2002, he moved to England for almost two years, where he took different courses on Sea Survival (Including wet drill), Marine Radio Operator (Short Range) and First Aid, all accredited by the Royal Yachting Association.

Sebastian has specialised in polar tourism and natural history. His first trip to Antarctica was on board a 36 ft (12 m) sailing boat, during this one-month voyage he developed skills on ice-navigation, and he familiarised himself with the Antarctic Environment, Exploration History, and Natural History. He has led several expeditions to Antarctica on board different vessels. He also worked as a lecturer (Geography, Ice, and Antarctic History), naturalist and Zodiac Driver. In 2008, his polar experience also extended to the Arctic, sailing in the Canadian Arctic and part of the Northwest Passage.

As a lecturer on Antarctic topics, he has been invited to the annual meeting of the International Superyacht Society, in Fort Lauderdale, Unites States, and to the Antarctic week organized annually in the city of Ushuaia, Argentina.
He has written several articles related to Antarctica in different magazines and publication, like The Great Southern Route, Superyacht Times, and Boat International among others. He is also co-author of “Antarctica, discovering the last continent”. Sebastian speaks English and Spanish.

I hold a Master degree in Physical Geography and studied in Austria, Iceland and Svalbard. Being a restless traveller and adventurer, a passionate alpinist and endurance sportsman, I love the outdoors and try to keep my life exciting. I have visited more than 80 countries and set foot on all continents. I mostly travel by bicycle; in sum 120.000 kilometres so far. Back in Austria I earn my living by public talks on my long trips and expeditions. Since my first visit to Svalbard in 1998, it is dragging me far beyond the polar circle every year. From January 2004 to October 2006, my wife Valeska and I lived year round in Longyearbyen and experienced not only the midnight sun but also the magic of the polar night. It was in these years that I started working as a tour guide: in the cold months leading snowmobile-trips into Svalbard’s wilderness, during summers taking guests hiking and on glaciers. Since 2005 I am connected to Oceanwide Expeditions, as a guide, lecturer and expedition leader on voyages to some of the wildest places on earth - Svalbard, Greenland and Antarctica. I am a victim of the polar virus; and be aware – it is contagious!
 

Since his first vacation to Norway in 1996, Christian has suffered severely under the quite widespread “Scandinavia-fever”. He has been exploring both the mountains and coastal regions of Norway, Sweden and Greenland by feet, on skis and in his sea kayak.

2008, studying engineering, Christian moved to Svalbard. Finally, after nearly three unforgettable years and experiences at 78 degrees North he moved “down South” to Tromsø in Northern Norway where he finished his Master’s degree.

Since 2009 Christian is working as a freelance guide and expedition leader, especially on longer tours all year around. First around Svalbard and Greenland, and since 2014 also towards the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia. He loves both the minimalistic landscape and quietness, wildlife encounters, and the heroic history of the high latitudes.

He is also a sea kayak instructor with his speciality being kayak trips with Orcas and Humpback whales he is offering around Tromsø since 2014.

When Christian is not in the very high latitudes, you probably find him playing around in his sea kayak off the Norwegian coast in wind and waves.

 

Lynn comes from the mountains and lakes of western Canada, where she first developed her love for remote wilderness and cold water. She started travelling at 17, and settled in Australia, where she completed two biology degrees, including a PhD in conservation genetics, examining minimum viable population size in wildlife. She first went to Antarctica by accident in 1996. Travelling again after her time in academia, Lynn left her motorcycle in Argentina to sail to the Antarctic Peninsula. She was hooked on Antarctica, and has been working in the polar regions ever since. She has been to the Ross Sea region, and knows the Antarctic Peninsula, the Falkland Islands and South Georgia better than some penguins. In the northern summer, she has taken ships to arctic Canada, Iceland, Greenland, Svalbard, Russia and the North Pole. Lynn stopped counting at somewhere over 135 voyages, 17 different vessels, and more than two years of her life spent in the Drake Passage. She has held most ship-based roles including lecturer (wildlife and natural history), guide, zodiac driver, Assistant Expedition Leader and Expedition Leader, and has also worked on shore as Operations Manager. She has co-authored two books on Antarctica, Antarctica The Complete Story (published on three continents) and The Blue Continent (released in 17 languages at last count). Lynn still calls Australia home, and has recently moved as close to Antarctica as she can get and still be in Australia.

Born in California near Los Angeles, Beau moved to Canada when he was one year old. Growing up in a log house in the Canadian wilderness in Northern Ontario, he understood at an early age to appreciate the great outdoors while learning wilderness skills such as survival, navigation, tracking & camping. After graduating college with a diploma in Sustainable Outdoor Recreation Management including studies in Biology, Wilderness Guiding, Wilderness Survival, Canoe Guiding, Ropes & Climbing, Plant Ecology, Small Engine Mechanics, Woodworking, Marketing, & Business Management, he headed west to British Columbia to work at a ski resort in the Rocky Mountains where he continued to drive just about every type of mechanized vehicle including tracked snow-cats, while exploring the mountains by snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking, & heli-boarding.
After meeting his German wife in B.C., he moved back to Ontario to work at a ski resort near the great lakes. In 2011 he crossed over to Germany permanently, trying his hand at making wine & building bikes while travelling the world with his wife, having been to nearly every continent with a special appreciation for the African savannah & Italian cuisine. Happiest in a jeep out on safari or out on deck searching for polar bears, he now works on expedition ships in the polar regions as an expedition leader, assistant expedition leader, guide, lecturer, gun armorer, bear expert, photographer, camping leader, safety officer, zodiac & outboard engine mechanic, as well as assisting with helicopter operations. During his spare time at home he also works as an expedition travel consultant, as well as creating and fine tuning his various lectures & talks, numbering over 30 between the northern & southern polar regions. He currently resides in Dresden, Germany with his wife & son. Patagonia, & Smith Optics.

Jordi was born in Spain in 1973. He studied Marine Science in Canary Islands and did a Master’s in Marine Science in University of Magallnes, Punta Arenas, Chile, where he used to hang around when not working on board different boats and ships as a Researcher or Guide-Lecturer in the Sub-antarctic, Antarctic and Arctic Regions. He became involved with guiding and tourism ten years ago after finishing his studies and training as a Mountain Guide, and more recently guiding in the Moroccan-Argelian Sahara Desert, before basing himself in 2003 in Southern Patagonia, where he was combining his studies on Phylogeography of Giant Kelp in the Chilean coast, with sailing on several Antarctic ships as a Guide-Lecturer.
Nowadays he is combing his work as Guide-Lecturer in the Polar Regions with the Scientific Research, mostly with the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH) and the Quaternary Research Center – Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego (CEQUA) in the Marine Mammal research focused mostly in Humpback whale in Patagonian and Antarctic waters (working in both places with photo-identification and biopsies for genetic studies with mitochondrial DNA) and Elephant seals breeding in Magellan Straits (Chile).
While living in Southern Patagonia he is also sailing as Naturalist Guide in the Magellanic Region for different tourist companies since 2005, and as Expedition Leader for the company “Fantastico Sur” in Magellan Straits and Fjords, also a Consultant for the same company working on the creation of new touristic routes for expedition vessels in Magellan Straits. Jordi is the Co-author of the “Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve”, UNESCO 2006, leading the Marine Research group, and working as a diver and Marine Biologist (CEQUA) for the Marine Protected Area “Francisco Coloane” in Magellan Straits.

Sarah Gerats (NL) grew up in Belgium, but lost her hearth to the Arctic during her time as an exchange student at the Academy of Arts in Iceland. She continued her studies in Time and Space at the University of Arts in Helsinki, Finland. In 2012 she accidentally moved up to Spitsbergen – extending her first visit to the archipelago to a visit of over a year. She has been living in Longyearbyen ever since. Sarah works as a expedition leader and guide on sailing vessels in both the Arctic and the Antarctic. When not working at sea you will find her on her own sailing boat along the Norwegian coast – or on longer hikes and skiing trips on Svalbard. Sarah will guide you with great enthusiasm around the island and through its history. Her main focus are the many stories that are connected to the different places – as well as the fascinating and rapidly changing landscape. She knows the island and the daily life year round and will make sure to tell you all about the dark months in the high North.

Phil studied biology at Imperial College in London, England. After completing his PhD in plant pathology, he worked for two winters and three summers as a field guide for the British Antarctic Survey, combining his passion for natural science with that of mountain exploration and photography. As a keen climber and ski mountaineer, he has led numerous climbing and skiing expeditions to Antarctica, Tibet, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Peru, East Greenland, the Caucasus and Canada, and was recently Vice President of the Alpine Club. He was leader numerous highly successful private mountaineering and ski mountaineering expeditions to Antarctica, and over the last four years has made the first ascents of almost thirty unclimbed Antarctic mountains. This is his 18th year operating in the polar regions.

Captain Nazarov was born on January 6th 1978, in the heart of Northern Russia in the town of Arkhangelsk, the so-called “Pomors Capital”; “Pomors” are people from the coast of the White Sea.

Since his childhood, living by the coast, he dreamt to be a sailor. So after he finished school he followed his dreams and his dreams became reality.
After high school, at the age of 15 he left home and started his naval career in the oldest Maritime College in Russia, where he graduated in 1997 at the age of 19. Three months later, he made his first Arctic voyage as 3rd officer on a hydrographic research vessel. For the next 8 years, he worked in the Russian Arctic in heavy ice conditions, in cooperation with nuclear icebreakers and with various international scientific expeditions in positions of 3rd, 2nd and Chief Officer of a scientific survey vessel.

Since the year 2000 he started working for “Oceanwide Expeditions”, which offers polar expedition cruises to the Arctic and Antarctic; yet still as a hobby during his vacation working on a hydrographic research ship in the Russian Arctic. Since 1997 until present, he has been working exclusively in the Arctic and Antarctic, and almost 17 years exclusively for “Oceanwide Expeditions”. “Oceanwide Expeditions” promoted him as Captain in 2012 to take the helm onboard the m/v Plancius.

During his career he also worked as ice captain on the passenger vessel "Antarctic dream" which was chartered by "Oceanwide Expeditions" in the Arctic. He helped the new Chilean crew to adapt and learn the new locations and different ice conditions in the Arctic.

Alexey considers himself a very happy person because he is passionate about his job, working with passengers and spending time in the Polar waters and in the ice.
In November 2017, he will celebrate his 20th anniversary working exclusively in the Arctic and Antarctic waters.

Alexey is passionate about Hydrography, survey of uncharted areas from inflatable boats and with special equipment for new landing locations, new anchorage positions, approaches and so forth.

During his almost twenty years, he gathered an enormous amount of data which he likes to share with fellow captains in the company. He is grateful to Oceanwide Expeditions for always supplying the crew onboard with the newest equipment for this kind of research which makes a great contribution to the safety of the passengers on board of the ships in the Arctic and Antarctic.

During his vacation he likes to visit different countries and spend time with his family; he is married and has a son, who is 16 years old.

Captain Levakov was born on the 26th of October 1957 in a small village ten kilometers from Nerekhta, a small ancient Russian town in the Kostroma region.

The closest water to his village was a 15,000 square meter pond. Even though his parents had no relationship with the water or the sea; when his 3rd grade elementary school teacher asked him what he would like to be Evgeny’s answer was: ”I want to become a sailor”. The teacher replied that such profession did not exist in the area, yet young Evgeney remained persistent in his goal and after his mandatory time in the army he proceeded in 1977 to Murmansk’s Highest Engineering Marine School to start his naval career. After his graduation he went to sea from June 1984 to June 1987 where he worked as the 3rd Officer on a fleet of fishing vessels in the city of Murmansk. Meanwhile during that period he sailed in the waters of Antarctica, South Georgia, the Southern Orkney Islands, and also Elephant Island. In the period of 1987 till 1992 Evgeney worked on vessels from Murmansk’s Port fleet to be closer to home after his wife gave birth to their second son. He then worked there till fall of 1992. In the autumn of 1992 he started working on the scientific vessels of the Murmansk office of the Russian Hydro- Meteorological service. There in the summer of 1993 he was appointed to the position of 2nd Officer on the m/v Professor Molchanov which was then chartered for passenger cruises in the Arctic to areas such as Spitsbergen, Greenland, Franz Joseph’s Land and voyages in Antarctica. From 1994 till 2000 he worked as the Chief Officer on m/v Professor Molchanov in the Arctic, Antarctic and the Atlantic Odyssey voyages, with expedition cruise companies such as Quark Expeditions, Oceanwide Expeditions and Aurora Expeditions. In 2001, he was invited as Chief Officer on m/v Polar Pioneer, and in the summer of 2002 went to the Arctic as the captain and worked in this position till summer of 2007 when he was transferred to be the captain on m/v Marina Tsvetaeva (now named m/v Ortelius) where he worked till March 2009.

Captain Levakov’s main navigation areas are the Polar Arctic and Antarctica including the Ross Sea, Dumont d’Urville Sea, the islands of Papua New Guinea and some voyages across the Amazon river from Belem to Iquitos and back.
In the fall of 2010 he started onboard the m/v Plancius, where he has worked until present day. Evgeny never dreamed that half of his career would be spent in the Polar waters of the Arctic and Antarctic.

Captain Levakov has been married since November 1978 and still considers this as the best choice made in his life. He has two sons and is the proud grandfather of four grandchildren, two granddaughters and two grandsons.

He is a citizen of Russia, lives in the city of Murmansk on the Kola Peninsula; the largest city above the North Polar Circle.

Captain Mika Erik Appel was born and raised in the archipelago of Vasa where the severe weather with seasonal changes, water & ice were part of daily life and which later on directed him towards a profession in shipping, he still resides in Vasa with his family.

Mika E Appel is a qualified Master Mariner and holds the Bachelor of Marine Transportation certification from Aboa Mare/Turku Nautical College in Finland of batch 1988, began his Captain’s work in tug towing and pushing barges in the North Sea and Baltic before moving on to Passenger vessels. During those years he gained young-ice navigation expertise in the Baltic Sea areas.

Captain Mika E Appel is no stranger to Expedition work, having spent 6 years as Expedition vessel’s Captain, also a period of 3 years as an Expedition vessel Staff Captain which enhanced his interest for Expedition vessel work. Arctic and Antarctic waters are both familiar to him and he has become an expert in multi-year ice navigation.

Prior to starting his Expedition vessel business, Captain Appel spent 5 years as a Nautical Instructor, Customer Solutions and Training Centre Manager in Subic Bay Philippines, delivered a range of nautical subjects and managed the training center, there he became an IMO accredited Trainor & Assessor. Drawing on 25 years’ experience in passenger vessels and large cruise ships, Captain Mika E Appel now focuses mainly on Expedition work and navigation in remote areas, in particular in ice laden waters.

Captain Appel’s varied background in Passenger, Cruise vessel and Training Centre provided the perfect foundation for Expedition passenger vessel work.

Captain Ernesto Barria was born in Santiago, Chile on September 4th, 1971. His family had strong bonds with the sea: his father, his grandfather and several uncles share the respect for the ocean.

Captain Barria always wanted to be on the ocean. Perhaps he even learned to swim before he could walk.
In fact he was working as a beach guard at the early age of 16, as his favorite sport when he was young was swimming.

When he finished high school, he decided to move south to one of the most important Ports in Chile, Puerto Montt, and started his studies there to become a Merchant Marine Officer.
He graduated in 1991 when he was 20 years old and at that time he had already begun to sail on different vessels in Puerto Montt (Chile).

In 2005 and being First officer of the vessel, 'Antarctic Dream', he started to navigate in Antarctica and later on the same vessel in the Arctic.

In 2013 Captain Barria started to work for Oceanwide Expeditions as Captain onboard MPS Ortelius.

In 2011 he obtained the rank of Captain of the High Sea and in 2015 he was chosen as the best officer of the Chilean merchant navy.

When he is not working he loves to travel around Chile with his family, enjoying scuba diving, swimming, cycling and photography which is also his favorite hobby.