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Antarctic cruise ship evacuated Antarctic cruise ship evacuated
(30 minutes later)
More than 150 passengers and crew have been rescued from a tourist ship, after it hit ice off Antarctica. More than 150 passengers and crew have been rescued from a stricken tourist ship after it hit ice off Antarctica.
The M/S Explorer began listing close to King George Island in the Antarctic Ocean, near the South Shetland Islands. The M/S Explorer is listing at 30 degrees close to the South Shetland Islands, in the Antarctic Ocean.
Susan Hayes, of Gap Adventures, which owns the ship, said some 100 passengers and 54 crew members were evacuated to lifeboats and then to another ship.Susan Hayes, of Gap Adventures, which owns the ship, said some 100 passengers and 54 crew members were evacuated to lifeboats and then to another ship.
The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said about 20 Britons were among the evacuated passengers. The firm said 23 Britons, 17 Dutch, 10 Australians, 13 Americans and 10 Canadians were among the passengers.
All the passengers were being transferred to a nearby vessel, the Endeavour, and a Norwegian cruise ship, the Nordnorge, said the MCA. The remaining nationalities of the rescued tourists are Chinese, Danish, Swiss, Japanese, French, German and Irish.
'Fist-sized crack''Fist-sized crack'
The Explorer left Ushuaia on Argentina's southern tip on 11 November for a 19-day trip through the Drake Passage. All the passengers were transferred to a nearby vessel, the Endeavour, and a Norwegian cruise ship, the Nordnorge, said the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
The BBC's Daniel Schweimler in Buenos Aires says they are now on their way to port in Ushuaia, on Argentina's southern tip, from where they disembarked on 11 November for a 19-day cruise through the Drake Passage.
The MCA said it was informed at 0524 GMT on Friday of the incident involving the 2,400-tonne vessel.The MCA said it was informed at 0524 GMT on Friday of the incident involving the 2,400-tonne vessel.
Graphic: Key facts about MV ExplorerGraphic: Key facts about MV Explorer
The expedition ship ran into trouble approximately 120km (75 miles) north of the Antarctic Peninsula.The expedition ship ran into trouble approximately 120km (75 miles) north of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Ms Hayes, vice-president of marketing for Toronto-based Gap Adventures, told the BBC News website: "The M/S Explorer hit a lump of ice off King George Island this morning and the impact left the vessel with a crack in the hull the size of a fist.Ms Hayes, vice-president of marketing for Toronto-based Gap Adventures, told the BBC News website: "The M/S Explorer hit a lump of ice off King George Island this morning and the impact left the vessel with a crack in the hull the size of a fist.
"All passengers and crew have been evacuated, they are all accounted for and are safe and well and have been transferred to another vessel.""All passengers and crew have been evacuated, they are all accounted for and are safe and well and have been transferred to another vessel."
The captain and the chief officer remained on board while everyone was evacuated.The captain and the chief officer remained on board while everyone was evacuated.
The MCA said the vessel was listing at 25 degrees but the tour company said it was only tilting at eight degrees. Gap Adventures said the ship was listing at 30 degrees and that pumps were being used to stop the ship sinking.
Gap Adventures said the ship was taking on water and that pumps were being used to stop the ship sinking.
The company's spokeswoman did not have a passenger list to hand but said most of their customers on the cruise route were typically from Britain, Canada and America.
The rescue operation was co-ordinated by the Ushuaia coastguard.The rescue operation was co-ordinated by the Ushuaia coastguard.
The 19-day cruise costs around $11,600 (£5,630), not including international flights.The 19-day cruise costs around $11,600 (£5,630), not including international flights.
Coastguards said the weather conditions were good for this time of year.Coastguards said the weather conditions were good for this time of year.
MV EXPLORER Built: 1969, FinlandCapacity: 100 passengersTonnage: 2,400 Cruising speed: 11 knotsEngines: 3,800 hp dieselsCrew: 54 First custom-built expedition shipKnown as the 'Little Red Ship' to afficionadosBecame the first passenger vessel to navigate the North West passage in 1984Involved in rescue of crew from Argentinian cargo vessel off Anvers Island, Antarctica, in 1989 MV EXPLORER Built: 1969, FinlandCapacity: 100 passengersTonnage: 2,400 Cruising speed: 11 knotsEngines: 3,800 hp dieselsCrew: 54 First custom-built expedition shipKnown as the 'Little Red Ship' to aficionadosBecame the first passenger vessel to navigate the North West passage in 1984Involved in rescue of crew from Argentine cargo vessel off Anvers Island, Antarctica, in 1989
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