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Antarctic cruise ship evacuated Stricken Antarctic ship evacuated
(about 1 hour later)
One hundred passengers and crew have been rescued from a stricken tourist ship after it hit ice off Antarctica.One hundred passengers and crew have been rescued from a stricken tourist ship after it hit ice off Antarctica.
The M/S Explorer is listing at 30 degrees close to the South Shetland Islands, in the Antarctic Ocean.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 91 passengers and nine crew members were evacuated to lifeboats and then to another ship.Susan Hayes, of Gap Adventures, which owns the ship, said 91 passengers and nine crew members were evacuated to lifeboats and then to another ship.
The firm said 23 Britons, 17 Dutch, 10 Australians, 13 Americans and 10 Canadians were among the passengers. The specialist Lloyds List maritime publication said the Explorer had five faults at its last inspection.
Gap Adventures said 23 Britons, 17 Dutch, 10 Australians, 13 Americans and 10 Canadians were among the passengers.
'Fist-sized hole'
The remaining nationalities of the rescued tourists are Irish, Danish, Swiss, Belgian, Japanese, French, German and Chinese, said the Toronto-based tour company.The remaining nationalities of the rescued tourists are Irish, Danish, Swiss, Belgian, Japanese, French, German and Chinese, said the Toronto-based tour company.
Graphic: Key facts about MV Explorer
Earlier reports suggested 154 people were on board but the tour company said that figure was the vessel's maximum capacity.Earlier reports suggested 154 people were on board but the tour company said that figure was the vessel's maximum capacity.
'Fist-sized hole'
All passengers and crew were transferred to a Norwegian cruise ship, the Nordnorge.All passengers and crew were transferred to a Norwegian cruise ship, the Nordnorge.
class="bodl" href="#graphic">Graphic: Key facts about MV Explorer They are 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 BBC's Daniel Schweimler in Buenos Aires says they are 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 captain and the chief officer abandoned the Liberian-registered Explorer after initially remaining on board to pump water.
The captain and the chief officer abandoned the Explorer after initially remaining on board to pump water. 'Deficiencies'
The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said it was informed at 0524 GMT on Friday of the incident involving the 2,400-tonne vessel. According to a report on Lloyds List's website, the ship was found to have five "deficiencies" at an inspection in May at Greenock, Scotland, by the UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
Watertight doors were described as "not as required", while lifeboat maintenance problems and missing search and rescue plans were also noted.
Chilean port inspectors also found six deficiencies during an inspection in Puerto Natales in March, including two related to navigation matters, said Lloyds List.
The MCA said it was informed at 0524 GMT on Friday of the incident involving the 2,400-tonne vessel.
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 Gap Adventures, told the BBC News website: "The M/S Explorer has been evacuated after it hit a lump of ice off King George Island this morning. Ms Hayes, vice-president of marketing for Gap Adventures, told the BBC News website: "The M/S Explorer was evacuated after it hit a lump of ice off King George Island this morning.
"All passengers and crew are safe and well and they have now been transferred to a Norwegian cruise ship."All passengers and crew are safe and well and they have now been transferred to a Norwegian cruise ship.
"The hull has a hole the size of a fist and the outlook is not so positive for the ship at the moment.""The hull has a hole the size of a fist and the outlook is not so positive for the ship at the moment."
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 listing at 30 degrees and that pumps were being used to stop the ship sinking.
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) per cabin, not including international flights.
Coastguards said the weather conditions were good for this time of year, though the average temperature is still -5C.Coastguards said the weather conditions were good for this time of year, though the average temperature is still -5C.
M/S 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 1989M/S 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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Have you been on the Explorer? Do you know someone who may have been on this expedition? Are you involved in rescue operations? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below.
Have you been on the Explorer? Do you know someone who may have been on this expedition? Are you involved in rescue operations? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below.
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