Who we are...
Sharing a background in small-ship expedition cruising, the founders of EYOS have the know-how to take guests to the most remote and wild regions on earth in comfort and safety.
Our expertise, gained through many years of working in remote cruising areas, and the global network of contacts we have made along the way, will be a huge asset to any vessel setting off into the wilderness. Although we have covered quite some ground on our travels, we cannot claim to know the whole world and all its oceans ourselves. We do however represent a network of travel and marine professionals worldwide, with knowledge and experience leaving little of the globe unknown.
John Apps
John Apps has worked in the expedition travel industry for over 15 years both at sea, leading expeditions to remote regions the world over, and managing expedition operations from a shore-based position.
Afloat, John’s wealth of experience on and around all seven continents includes pioneering unsupported expeditions to the far reaches of Irian Jaya’s river systems, charting several previously unknown areas within these regions along the way. He led one of the first expedition voyages to the Russian Far East, only a year after the collapse of the Soviet Union, has cruised extensively through the Indo-Pacific, and is an expert on expedition cruising in the Seychelles, where he knows the more remote islands well, and has visited the remarkable Aldabra Atoll on more than 20 occasions. John has also organised and run adventure expeditions for small groups in the Caribbean aboard charter yachts.
As Ship Operations Manager of a major expedition company for over five years, John was responsible for a fleet of icebreakers and small ships in the Polar Regions. His knowledge and contacts of where to go, where to get things done, where to provision, bunker and operate within the Polar Regions is second to none and includes expertise obtaining sailing and landing permits, planning itineraries and advising on and acquiring expedition equipment. John’s numerous close friends and contacts within expedition cruising areas - from Government representatives to Customs Agents and suppliers - are a great asset in his difficult task of getting things done in remote regions. As Fleet Operations Manager, John’s experience of running a vessel for the right price was a paramount consideration; therefore his knowledge of planning itineraries, provisioning and running logistics to meet set budgets is a major strength.
John resides in Mallorca, where he is managing director of Ribeye Balearics based in Palma. He works closely with super-yachts providing luxury yacht tenders and rescue boats and is also involved in the design and production of specialised inflatable boats for use in the Polar Regions and from Expedition Vessels. At EYOS John brings his understanding of expedition operations, commercial shipping and the super-yacht industry together, providing a unique and valuable combination of skills and experience.
Captain Karl-Ulrich Lampe
Captain Lampe is one of the best known, highly experienced and respected expedition captains in the business. Since starting his seagoing career at an early age as cadet aboard the ships of North German Lloyd (today Hapag-Lloyd), he has held his masters licence for over 40 years. Introduced to passenger vessels aboard the famous original Europa, he supervised the construction of the new Europa at the Bremer Vulkan Shipyard, before spending the next 5 years aboard as Staff Captain cruising worldwide.
Moving on to small expedition vessels, the last 20 years of Captain Lampe’s career have been spent sailing as master aboard the Society Explorer (ex. Lindblad Explorer), World Discoverer, and National Geographic Endeavour (ex. Endeavour, ex. Caledonian Star). Voyages aboard these three remarkable vessels have taken him to just about every remote cruising ground on the globe, providing unmatched first-hand experience from the tropics to the poles.
He has many years experience in the tropical Pacific, knowing the islands both north and south of the equator intimately. Other regions explored include Indonesia, China, Japan, Eastern Siberia, North America, the Caribbean and Atlantic Islands, and both coasts and great rivers of South America.
Over 80 voyages to the Antarctic and extensive exploration of the Arctic make Captain Lampe one of the worlds most experienced Ice-Masters. In addition to voyages aboard his own ships, he has also sailed as consultant Ice Pilot aboard a variety of vessels new to the Polar Regions.
Recently retired from working at sea full-time, Captain Lampe returns periodically as relief Captain aboard the National Geographic Endeavour or as Ice-Pilot aboard other vessels. He is a valuable member of the EYOS team, advising on all marine matters including expedition vessel design, equipment considerations, and safe navigation.
Tim Soper
Raised on the Devon coast of Southwest England, growing up constantly in and around boats, Tim developed a passion for the sea. This led him to study at the University of Wales' marine laboratories on the Isle of Anglesey, where he combined oceanography and marine biology to earn an honors degree in Ocean Sciences.
Since joining his first expedition ship in 1994 as the youngest crew member on board, Tim has spent over a decade immersed in the expedition travel business. Working year-round as diver, boatman, guide and expedition leader, he has migrated with the seasons between the Polar Regions and tropics, gaining an intimate knowledge of a multitude of cruising destinations.
In the far North, as well as leading frequent expeditions to Norway's Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, Tim has transited the North-East passage, visiting the islands of the Russian High Arctic; Franz Josef Land, Severnya Zemlya and the New Siberian Islands, and reached the North Pole by icebreaker. He has led expeditions to the Canadian Arctic, Labrador and Greenland, as well as sub-Arctic Greenland, Canada, Norway, and Islands of the North Atlantic and Russian Far East.
In the tropics he has worked as Dive Guide or Expedition Leader on voyages across the Indian & Pacific Oceans, through Southeast Asia including the Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea & Vietnam, the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, East Africa, Central America, Caribbean, and the great rivers of South America.
In the Antarctic, as well as scores of voyages to the Peninsula region, Tim has led helicopter-equipped icebreaker expeditions deep into the Ross & Weddell Seas, and completely circumnavigated the continent, venturing to the far side of East Antarctica, and the seldom visited Phantom Coast. Always keen to explore, he has pioneered many new landings and discovered a previously unknown Emperor Penguin rookery. This remarkable experience in the Antarctic has led Tim to be a representative to IAATO, where he sits on the Landing Site Guidelines committee.
After spending several years managing expedition voyages for a charter operator, Tim knows what it takes to outfit a vessel for expedition cruising, and has had experience working with crews of many nationalities and backgrounds. His diverse regional knowledge and vast experience of marine expedition operations in some of the most challenging conditions on earth, as well as expertise in helicopter, dive and shore-based operations, makes him one of the most sought-after voyage-planners and expedition leaders in the business.
Rob McCallum
EYOS Partner Rob McCallum is a professional expedition leader, manager and consultant having learnt his craft through many years working as a guide, naturalist, onboard lecturer and expedition leader. A New Zealander, Rob’s earlier career as a park ranger and conservation manager in New Zealand and the South Pacific has given him as extensive knowledge of this region and the challenges of mounting complex logistical operations in remote regions. Having lived in Papua New Guinea for over 10 years, he is proficient in the neo-Melanesian languages of PNG, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. His last three years in PNG were spent in the remote Southern New Ireland region undertaking rainforest conservation initiatives for the United Nations Development Programme. His role as a technical adviser and field operative to the UN has led to a wealth of experiences in remote and isolated parts of PNG and an in-depth understanding of the complex cultural and social fabric of the Pacific. The results of this work formed the basis of his M.Sc. thesis. He is also a published author on tropical conservation techniques.
Rob has extensive experience in conducting challenging expeditions in the worlds far-flung outposts. He has worked as a dive master in several Pacific locations including Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and French Polynesia and continues to regularly lead dive expeditions to these locations. In 2005 he led an expedition to the RMS Titanic during which he dived to 12500ft in a submersible.
He has several seasons of guiding experience in the Antarctic, both to the Ross Sea and the Antarctic Peninsula, and including a full circumnavigation of the entire continent in 2002/03.
He is presently the Expedition Manager for Deep Ocean Expeditions as well as working as a consultant expedition specialist to the world’s premier expedition companies. He works with high end and exclusive clients who are interested in exploring well beyond the beaten path, and who share his delight of new horizons.
Full CVs and References are available upon request.