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ACCIDENTS

Stricken Russian Boat in "Precarious" State in Antarctic

A Russian-flagged fishing boat holed in the icy waters of the Antarctic remains in a "precarious" position after receiving extra pumping equipment dropped by a New Zealand air force aircraft, New Zealand's rescue officials said Sunday.
Monday, 19.Dec.2011, 00:27 (GMT+3)

The crew of the Sparta, which was holed while fishing in the Ross Sea, has requested more equipment to help repair the boat's hull while rescue efforts were hampered by icy conditions in the Southern Ocean, said a statement from the Rescue Coordination Center New Zealand (RCCNZ).

The 48-meter vessel had hit ice underwater and put a 30 cm hole in the hull, 1.5 meters below the water line. It was taking on water and listing 13 degrees.

On Saturday, a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C130 Hercules dropped off extra pumping equipment and fuel to the vessel, after a seven-hour flight from Christchurch.

Sparta's crew reported over Saturday night that temporary patches they had attached to the damaged section of hull had failed and the boat was again taking on water, but the flow had been stopped again early Sunday.

RCCNZ search and rescue mission coordinator Neville Blakemore said Sunday the crew was continuing to pump water from the ship using the on-board pumping equipment and the pump delivered Saturday.

"They are keeping ahead of the water ingress using two pumps," Blakemore said in a statement.

"But they are having difficulty in trying to fix a patch to the damaged part of the hull because they need to stop one of the pumps to do this, and then the water level creeps up again."

Blakemore said the Sparta's stability was the top priority for the rescue operation.

"With help days away at least, we need to keep the crew on board Sparta where they have their best chance of survival.

"The crew has maneuvered the vessel alongside the ice shelf and attached mooring lines to the ice. They have also deployed their life rafts which are alongside Sparta.

"They have told us they need more equipment to assist with repairs and securing the vessel."

Blakemore said the ship's agent was sourcing the equipment and the RCCNZ would coordinate its delivery.

RCCNZ search and rescue mission coordinator Dave Wilson said earlier Sunday the Sparta remained in a precarious position.

"This highlights the importance of the RNZAF's mission in delivering the pumping equipment yesterday," said Wilson in a statement.

"They have life rafts, but with the conditions down there, it's much safer for them if they can wait for rescue on board their vessel."

Wilson said two vessels, the Sel Jevaer and the Chiyo Maru no. 3, were continuing to proceed towards the Sparta, but their progress was being hampered by heavy sea ice and the vessels were expected to take several days to reach Sparta's position.

The Norwegian vessel Sel Jevaer was only 19 nautical miles away, but was currently hemmed in by ice and unable to proceed. Sparta's Russian-flagged sister ship, Chiyo Maru no. 3, was slowly making its way towards the stricken vessel, but was still days away.

Sparta's owner had commissioned the South Korean icebreaker Araon to go to Sparta to offer assistance. Araon left New Zealand just after midnight and was expected to take about eight days to reach Sparta.

The Sparta, with 32 crew aboard 15 Russians, 16 Indonesians and one Ukrainian issued a distress call from a position next to the Antarctic ice shelf at about 3 a.m. Friday New Zealand time.

On Saturday, the RCCNZ released the New Zealand vessel San Aspiring from the rescue operation, after its crew confirmed the conditions were too difficult for it to proceed.

"San Aspiring was 470 nautical miles away from Sparta, but would have had to travel much further than that to reach the vessel, because there was no direct line through the ice," Wilson said.

"They confirmed the journey would take too long and would potentially put their own crew in danger."

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