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Antarctic Cruise Ship Runs Aground
The Antarctic cruise ship the M/V Ocean Nova has run aground in Marguerite Bay, near the Antarctic Peninsula, with 106 passengers and crew aboard. According to this story, from The Guardian, there is no immediate threat to anyone on board the vessel. Quark Expeditions, the tour operator running the Ocean Nova, is posting updates for the press on their website, and reports that ship is not leaking fuel, and that the captain was waiting for high tide to return in the hopes that it would help in freeing the ship from the rocks. Since that dispatch however, two high tides have come and gone, and there is no word that the ship has been freed. Meanwhile, another ship, the M/V Clipper Adventurer is en route to pick-up the passengers and return them to Ushuaia, Argentina.
Jon Bowermaster, a frequent contributor to Gadling, has updated his blog this morning with information on the incident, including his own thoughts. He was in the region in December, and feels that it will take unusually high tides to dislodge the ship and get it back on its way.
This is the second incident of a ship running aground in Antarctica in the past few months. Back in December the M/V Ushuaia ran aground in Wilhelmina Bay, and last year the Explorer sank after hitting an iceberg. These incidences help to underscore the dangers of traveling in the Antarctic.
UPDATE: The M/V Ocean Nova has been freed by high tides.
More ice cold news we've covered in the past - Brrrrr!
Filed under: Antarctica, Argentina, Transportation, Cruises
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bobby Feb 19th 2009 8:58AM
How Often do Captains get thier licenses renewed ?
chris Feb 19th 2009 9:38AM
What happened to global warming??? If it was melting the caps ,why would ships be stuck ???? They didn't get stuck there before why now???
Kraig Feb 19th 2009 9:40AM
The problem is that there are a lot more ships in the region than ever before, and many of the captains are inexperienced. I don't know that that is the case with this captain, but it is becoming a common theme.
Also, the melting glaciers have caused more icebergs in the area too, which makes for trickier navigation, and more exposed rock surfaces.
Debbie Feb 19th 2009 10:30AM
As long as the ship isn't sinking and there is no threat to the passengers, I'd be glad for a few extra days on the ship! LOL
Circus Tim Feb 19th 2009 10:30AM
Don't these craft have depthfinders? They have been available since WWII. They need more training and certification for those going into these waters, The next one could be a tragedy
Mike F Feb 19th 2009 12:26PM
3 Plane crashes in 2 weeks Cruise ships loosing passengers. Now ship runs aground. Train wrecks.I think i will stick to my Rascal scooter.
vanatic Feb 19th 2009 1:17PM
Can any of these Magellon's drive a ship?
sharon green Feb 20th 2009 1:35AM
just wondered who the 7 ozzie's are, as my good friend has gone on one of those trips and i can't remember which one.. her name is sue