Semester at Sea captain dies on ship

On a dark night in the fall of 2004, a drunken student fell overboard on Semester at Sea’s MV… On a dark night in the fall of 2004, a drunken student fell overboard on Semester at Sea’s MV Explorer. Capt. Antonios Kritikos — responsible for approximately 650 students and 250 crewmembers — handled the situation calmly and retrieved the student from the water in 45 minutes.

“It was pitch black out, with no moon, in shark infested waters,” senior William Maxwell said. “The captain had to act quickly.”

Maxwell, who’s majoring in film studies and English writing, was aboard the ship when the student fell in the south Atlantic Ocean, en route to South America.

Kritikos, 59, died of a heart attack on board the vessel last Monday, July 4. In his time with Semester at Sea, he captained four voyages.

Kritikos supervised the construction of the MV Explorer and developed a strong attachment to his ship.

He protected it like his own home and did not tolerate misconduct. Maxwell said Kritikos scolded students for putting their feet on furniture.

“The captain was adamant about what he expected from his passengers,” Maxwell said, “but he was a very, very good captain. He was very competent and emotional about his job.”

“It is with deep sadness that we report that, today, Captain Antonios Kritikos has suddenly passed away while onboard the MV Explorer,” read a statement on Semester at Sea’s Web site. “Faculty, staff and students have been informed of the somber event and are joined together as a community to deal with the loss.”

Michael Bikerman, professor of geology and planetary sciences at Pitt, served as the Semester at Sea academic dean for two voyages, working alongside Kritikos.

He was on board as the academic dean on the fall 2004 voyage.

“His handling of the man-overboard incident on the fall 2004 voyage is typical of his approach,” Bikerman said. “He had gratitude that the student was recovered, along with disappointment and slightly concealed anger in that the incident occurred.”

Capt. Jeremy Kingston replaced Kritikos when the ship docked in St. Petersburg, Russia. This is the second Semester at Sea voyage for the British captain, who brings 30 years of experience to the ship.

Semester at Sea’s itinerary remained on schedule after Kingston arrived on board in Russia.

Kritikos’ death coincided with Pitt’s announcement this year to cut off relations with the Semester at Sea program after 24 years. Pitt, while no longer acting as the academic sponsor for the program, will continue to certify credits received on the floating university for another three terms.

Pitt and the Semester at Sea program settled their dispute out of court.