Hi I received an e-mail only yesterday with an update - the vessel is berthed in Kota Kinabalu conventional port. I have a 'phone ' pic, very good quality but too small to add to the site. - Regards Tim.

Hello my grandpa lost his arm on this boat during the war is it now a hotel as said in comments? Does any one have any information about its whereabouts please?

Orient Explorer - has been moved , will find out where and get a pic. asap.

Orient Explorer still at the Sutera Harbour Resort and likley to be there for a long time as Malaysia / Sabah is in 'lockdown'.

Orient Explorer - thanks Bjorn for the information.
Regards Tim.

M/S Sognefjord
Other names Kilham, ex PCE 833 Callign LMWJ Rederi
Fylkesbåtane in Sogn og Fjordane, Måløy / Florø
Nationality Norway flag Norway Home port
Floro, Norway
Boatyard Name: Pullman Standard Car Mfg. Co., Chicago, IL, USA
Year 1943
Gross tonnage: 934 Nettotonnasje: 395
Engine type: General Motors/ performance: BHK 1800 Speed: 15 knots
Length: 56,47m width: 10,08m Draught : 3,87m
Launched 08/1943:as USS PCE 833 for United States Navy, USA
10/1943: Transferred to Royal Navy, UK, new name - HMS KILHAM
12/1946: Returned to United States Navy, USA, new name - USS KILHAM 00/1949: Sold to Skips A / S Investment, Bergen. Converted to Passenger Ship at Haugesund Mek. Verk.new name - SOGNEFJORD
00/1978: Transferred to Fylkesbaatane in Sogn og Fjordane, Florø
02/1984: Sold to K / S Orion Film A / S (Filmeffekt A / S) Oslo, new name - ORION
06/1985: Transferred to K/S Sandy Marine A/S (Filmeffekt A / S) Oslo
05/1986: Sold to A/S Orion(Tomrefjord Elektroservice A /S) Tomrefjord, Oslo
10/1987: Sold to Cruiser Corp (Miska Matkat O/Y) Kingstown, St. Vincent & Grenadines
05/1991: Sold to Orion Risteiyt O/Y, Fredrikshamn, Finland
00/1992: Sold to Cruiser Corp SA., Kingstown, St. Vincent & Grenadines
00/1995: Sold to unknown owner, San Lorenzo, Honduras, new name - ORION II 00/1997: No owner or port, but renamed - ORIENT EXPLORER 11/2009: Sold 06/2018 to: Dronkers BV (Sensi Borneo Sdn Bhs) unknown port and flag
00/2019: Still active.

Orient Explorer - did not know she was a Royal Navy warship from 1943 - 46 as HMS Kilham Z 07 - one of 15 Patrol 'Kil Class vessels.

Hi Clive - there has been some activity on the vessel, so I guess a survey has been undertaken and the ship is not on the rocks and sound to be towed - will keep you updated.
Regards Tim

Good to know that she is not destined for the scrapyard. I presume that she is now in a suitable condition to be towed.

Orient Explorer update - The local news is that the ship is to be towed to Sandakan and refitted as a hotel :)

Hi rd77 - I have added a pic. today -land side from outside the new 'high end 'show apartments being built.

Hi rd77 - its hard aground on large sharp rocks placed around the resort seafront as part of a sea defence. When next there I will get some pics. from the shore side
Regards Tim.

Nooo! That looks like it will be the end of the old girl :-(

Hi Pieter - As far as I know while here it has never been used for accommodation off any type and not a dive centre, occasionally a small boat would be along side, just to check it i think and as far as I know no plans to move or scrap it - a lot off local rummers !!!!

Will this be the end of the old fiord ferry SOGNEFJORD? She still has the colors of the original Norwegian company Sogn og Fjordane (now Fjord1) on the bow. Laidup here since 2008, but in use as hotel or diving accomodation or what? Any info aprreciated.