Crews rush to rescue 27 people on Antarctic fishing boat trapped in thick ice
PUBLISHED : Thursday, 12 February, 2015, 11:22pm
UPDATED : Thursday, 12 February, 2015, 11:27pm
Associated Press in Wellington, New Zealand
Polar Star smashes through ice in Antarctica last year.Photo: AP
Crews from the United States and New Zealand were trying to rescue a damaged fishing boat with 27 people aboard yesterday after it had become stuck in ice near Antarctica.
The US Coast Guard said the Australian boat Antarctic Chieftain suffered damage to three of its four propellers after getting stuck on Wednesday and can no longer move.
Coastguard spokesman Lieutenant Donnie Brzuska said it had sent the icebreaker Polar Star on a 330 nautical mile mission to free the fishing boat. He said the cutter would need to break through several miles of ice that is 2.7 metres thick, as well as enduring high winds and snowfall.
"The considerable geographic distances and extreme environmental conditions make this a complex rescue mission," said Captain Matthew Walker, commanding officer of Polar Star. "However, we're confident in our ability to reach the Antarctic Chieftain and committed to ensuring the safety of life at sea no matter the challenges."
The Polar Star is scheduled to reach the fishing boat late today. The plan is for the New Zealand fishing vessel Janas to escort or tow the boat to a safe harbour.
Mike Hill, manager of New Zealand's Rescue Coordination Centre, said the hull of the 63-metre fishing boat remains undamaged.
He said the crew of the fishing boat were well provisioned and don't face immediate danger.
The fishing boat is stuck about 900 nautical miles northeast of McMurdo Sound. It is licensed to catch Antarctic toothfish, a prized delicacy that's often marketed as Chilean sea bass.
The US Coast Guard's Polar Star is 120 metres long with a maximum speed of 18 knots. The cutter is almost 40 years old, and it is the only heavy icebreaker in the US capable of operating in the icy Antarctic conditions.
Last year, the Polar Star helped free a Russian ship and a Chinese icebreaker from the Antarctic ice.
"The seas of Antarctica are treacherous and unforgiving," said US Coast Guard Vice Admiral Charles Ray.
"This incident is a sobering reminder of the importance of the US icebreaker fleet as we see increased human activity in the polar regions."
Additional reporting by Reuters
